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'File II. IRAQ (3) Vol. 1 Shaikh of Kuwait's Date Gardens on the Shatt-al Arab. (Kuwait's relations with Turkish Govt. and Turkish demand that Kuwaitis should take out Turkish Nationality Certificates)' [‎270v] (558/636)

The record is made up of 1 volume (307 folios). It was created in 18 Sep 1904-10 Nov 1913. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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willing to give up their arms, if the Government will protect their lives,
property and rights but as long as their neighbours are armed they are
compelled to carry weapons in self-defence.
“ To prevent the importation of arms our ships must always he present to
stop smuggling in the Gulf of Basrah, and the poisonous trade must be cut off
either by putting an end altogether to the rebellious life of Kuwait or by at
least blockading it by sea and land.”
It goes without saying that as all these measures do not come within the
scope of the existing laws, martial law ought to be proclaimed in a few sanjaks
which are hot beds of sedition. But let me not be misunderstood. There is
no comparison possible between town life and the life of the Bedawin in Irak.
The town populations are quiet and obedient and can be governed by the
ordinary laws, but the tribes are beyond the application of say the Criminal Code.
It would be mistaken policy to proclaim martial law unnecessarily in the towns
for it would irritate the very people whose hearts we need to win whereas the
town folk are strongly in favour of the severe punishment of the tribes.
If there is any opposition to the proposal for military expeditions I would
repeat that the present state of affairs cannot go on, In winter Irak is more
favourable to military movements than Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. , In a year the VI Army corps
will be able to carry out its punitive duty but then it will be too late* for in
that one year there may occur events so terrible that not a centurv will ’ suffice
to obliterate their effects.
The moral and economic importance of the Hauran to the Empire cannot
be compared with that of Irak. In the first place there is political meaning
impossible to conceal in the importation into Irak of so many arms of English
manufacture, secondly a continuous influence is exercised from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
to Irak by way of the Tigris and Euphrates. It is true that there is freedom
of trade but let us think of the political effects for people, who are watching
their opportunity of attacks made on the life and property of a friendly
Government in the course of freedom of trade. A few months ago an English
engineer travelling by way of the Tigris to Hindiewas stopped by a brigandand
ordered to pay toll. He had nothing less than a Turkish lira and the brigand
had no change but the latter—honest fellow—gave the Englishman thirty or
forty bullets as change with the advice that they should be shown to Nazim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
E ow it may be that not every Englishman or every engineer passing that
way will be as well acquainted with the local custom. Perhaps he will say
“ what is this toll ? I shan’t pay ” and will eventually “ eat ” a bullet, I do
not wish to speak here of the diplomatic difficulties which might arise from the
difficulty experienced in punishing the murderer.
As to the financial side of the question let me only say that, however much
the expedition costs, it will, if successful, pay for itself many times over in
regular payment of taxes, etc.
In order that the punishments may have proper effect the measures taken
must be fixed and adapted to individuals. With regard to the Shaikhs who are
as influential as princes or as an Indian It a j ah, when the worst have been
punished on the spot, the minor offenders, when their past crimes have been
brought to light by courts martial, might perhaps be sent with honour to one
of the islands in the Mediterranean. Shaikhs of the second degree mio-ht
receive a lighter punishment; for instance it should suffice to prevent their
returning to Irak for a certain length of time. As to the small Shaikhs, they
will naturally sink to the level of a small Government official, to that of a
moukhtar. The tribes are accustomed to rally round great names and every
Shaikh of note is the centre of attraction. Now this attraction must be
broken for the sake of the salvation of the Empire. There used to be tribes
and Shaikhs in Egypt; now there are only fellahin Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. . In Irak too w^e must put
an end to the present system and leave only fellahin Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. . 1
If the policy pursued by the old regime is continued rest assured that we
shall lose Irak which is in a worse state than the Yemen, for foreigners who
have interests there are looking on Irak with hungry eyes.

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the:

  • Shaikh of Kuwait's date gardens on the Shatt al-`Arab
  • Turkish demand that Kuwaitis should take out Turkish Nationality Certificates
  • registration of Shaikh Mubarak's property at Faddaghiya
  • offer of a cash salary to Shaikh of Kuwait as Qaimaqam

The principal correspondents in the volume include the 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. , Kuwait, Stuart George Knox; the Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Mubarak al Sabah; 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. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , John Gordon Lorimer.

Extent and format
1 volume (307 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 309; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-308; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File II. IRAQ (3) Vol. 1 Shaikh of Kuwait's Date Gardens on the Shatt-al Arab. (Kuwait's relations with Turkish Govt. and Turkish demand that Kuwaitis should take out Turkish Nationality Certificates)' [‎270v] (558/636), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/5, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050944618.0x00009f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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