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Coll 30/21 'Persian Gulf: Koweit. Blockade by Ibn Saud. Koweit-Nejd Relations' [‎197r] (404/1142)

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The record is made up of 1 file (562 folios). It was created in 15 Mar 1932-13 May 1935. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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apparently still be regarded as binding m so far as they “e not affected by o _
subsequent instruments. We eommumcated article 9 of the Bund ® 1 d
Agreement to Ibn gaud in 1928; and in 1933 the Political A gent, Koweit and
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. brought to notice the continued existence of the obligations
of the Sheikh in regard to customs duties (paragraph 2 above) under article 10
-.of the agreement); (d) fourthly, that we have undertaken to recognise a
have in fact recognised, Koweit as an independent principality under British
protection. No definition has been given or attempted of the meaning ot
“ British protection” in this connexion; and, while pmma facie the bneikn
would apparently be justified in claiming that it represented an assurance ot
effective protection in respect of the whole of his principality, there is some
room for discussion as to its precise implications, and it is noteworthy that no
appeal appears to have been made under it either by the present Sheikh or by his
predecessors. j Q LAITHWAITE
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , October 11, 1933.
Appendix C.
Supplementary Note.
Question of Liability for the Protection of Koweit against Aggression from
Outside, 1928-29.
Akhwan raids on Koweit had taken place in 1924 and 1925, but on
an inconsiderable scale. The Akhwan raids on Iraq by I eisal-al-Dawish and
the Mutair tribe at the end of 1927 had, however, more important reactions on
the principality. At the request of the Sheikh His Majesty’s Government agreed
to aerial reconnaissance over his territory ; and, with his concurrence it was
later decided to withdraw the restrictions originally imposed by His M ,] y
Government on bombing in pursuit of raiders within Koweit territory. An
Akhwan raid was successfully dealt with by Koweit forces at El Riqai on the
27th January, 1928, and whilst retiring into Nejd was pursued and successfully
attacked by the Royal Air Force on two following days. A further raid occurred
late in February, which was not opposed by ground forces, but was again success^
fully pursued by the Royal Air Force for two days. In view of the possibility
of further serious developments, and of the recognised liability of His Majesty
Government under existing engagements for the protection f ^oweit (a
phrase the exact scope of which is open to argument), further defence measu e
were now taken. A temporary air base (political objections to a permane ^
station being regarded as conclusive) was established m Koweit: a flight ol
aeronlanes and a detachment of armoured cars were despatched to the town
for its protection : three vessels of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Squadron (later reduced
to one) were stationed off Koweit itself, and a landing party disembarked and
remained on shore until the crisis had passed. All action ta y° f
the concurrence of the Sheikh, who was m addition, allowed to purchase from
the Government of India a small supply of machine gnus and Lewis guns. After
some discussion His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India agreed
that his Excellency might be allowed to purchase armoured motor cars, on the
tderstaMTng that they would be used only for defence, and would not cross the
borders of Koweit in repelling raids save with the concurrence of the Political
Agent. The crisis, however, passed off without incident and the special forces
which had been despatched to Koweit were withdrawn during the late spring.
For financial reasons the Sheikh abandoned the idea of purchasing armoured
CarS o ()„ the 15th August, 1928, the Air Officer Commanding, Iraq, in order
to provide against all eventualities, asked permission to send car or air recon
naissances into Koweit territory and to establish a defence air b a ^ at Koweit
in the event of a raid. The India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. remarked (letter of the 22nd August,
1928') : “ The Secretary of State would see strong objection on political grounds
to the use of Koweit territory in connexion with air operations against the
4khwan by which Koweit was not directly or immediately threatened. Having
regard however to the treaty liability of His Majesty s Government for the
nrotection of Koweit and to the action taken with the consent of the bheikh
in the early part of this year, he would see no objection to the grant of the
authority now requested when Koweit was directly or indirectly menaced, on
the understanding that the prior consent of the Sheikh was obtained from the

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Content

This volume contains correspondence between British officials regarding a trade blockade that was imposed on Kuwait by the King of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Sa'ud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]. In addition to this specific topic, the correspondence also contains lengthy discussions regarding Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait more broadly.

As well as internal correspondence between British officials (primarily Britain's Minister in Jeddah, officials at the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Kuwait, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Foreign Office), the volume also contains translated copies of letters that were sent to British officials by Ibn Sa'ud, two of his close advisors (Yusuf Yassin and Fuad Hamza) and the Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

It also contains a number of extracts from Kuwait Intelligence Summaries produced by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Kuwait and the following documents:

  • 'Draft Note of a meeting held at the Foreign Office on Monday, October 8th [1934], regarding the Claims of the Sheikh of Kuwait Against King Ibn Saud' (folios 109-110)
  • 'Final Record of Meeting on Matters affecting Kuwait' 8 June 1934 (folios 132-133)
  • 'Final Record of a Meeting held at the Foreign Office on October 5 [1933] to Discuss Relations Between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Sheikh of Koweit' (folios 148-154)
  • 'Ibn Saud's attitude towards Kowait' by Sir Andrew Ryan, 16 August 1933 (folios 202-206)
  • 'Note on the Contraband Problem of Iraq with Her Neighbours, and in Particular How it Affects Kuwait' by Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Kuwait, Harold Richard Patrick Dickson, 29 May 1933 (folios 259-269)
  • 'Record of an Interdepartmental Meeting held at the Foreign Office on the 28th April, 1933, to consider the question of the blockade of Koweit by King Ibn Saud' (folios 292-295)
  • 'A Note on the present position of Trade between Iraq and Najd' (folios 420-421)
  • 'Notes on his Excellency Shaikh Ahmad's Trip to Riath [Riyadh]', 1932 (folios 487-496)
  • 'Draft Record of a Meeting Held at the Foreign Office on August 12th, 1931, to Consider Certain Questions Connected with Koweit' (folios 543-562).

The volume includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (562 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 562; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 30/21 'Persian Gulf: Koweit. Blockade by Ibn Saud. Koweit-Nejd Relations' [‎197r] (404/1142), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3732, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050207068.0x000005> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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