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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎151v] (307/1354)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (673 folios). It was created in 28 Jul 1932-15 Jun 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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on were regarded as being as strong as ever.
Both 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 Foreign Office agreed, too,
that the Iraq Government could not he allowed to take
punitive action on the lines suggested - particularly
as they had themselves made no real effort to deal
with the smuggling problem on the Iraqi side of the
frontier. The Foreign Office intimated, however, that
while they were quite prepared to overrule the |
Ambassador and to take a strong line with the Iraqis, ;
it was in their view essential that the sheikh should
first put them (andhimself) on better ground oy agreeing
to the appointment of the customs Director, who would i
operate a manifest system in respect of land frontiers
as well as of imports tiy sea. They remain/of opinion |
that it was quite impractical)le. for H.M.G. to keep out j
of this question. H.M.G. were hound to come in sooner
or later and it was in the view of the Foreign Office
far better that they should come in at this stage and
endeavour to bring pressure on both the sheikh and the .
Iraqis to accept a compromise which would be fair to
both parties than for them to stand aside and allow
Iraq to impose the sanctions contemplated in the event
of the Sheikhas proving obstinate, itiatever they did
they might rely upon haying to bear a certain of odium
in Iraq. fcew-tZ/- ,
3. On the whole, I think the drafts represent
the best we can make of tae situation. The Iraqis
<TK
are so much in the wrong that we cannot help regretting
that we should have to apply any pressure to the sheikh
But he himself is by no means free from blame. It seem£
clear that some form of customs organisation or control
is an essential preliminary to settlement with Iraq
(and probably with Saudi Arabia), and we are, I think,
justified in bringing strong pressure to bear on him
Him

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Content

The volume contains papers regarding the alleged smuggling of goods from Kuwait to Iraq, and attempts to broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. an agreement between the Shaikh of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ) and the Government of Iraq with regards to importation restrictions, customs appointments and effective frontier controls. It consists of correspondence between the Foreign Office, Colonial Office, 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , 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. at Kuwait, HM High Commissioner (and later Ambassador) at Baghdad, as well as communications received from Al Sabah and representatives of the Government of Iraq.

The file opens with correspondence concerning the activities of Kuwaiti water boats collecting drinking water at various points along the Shatt el-Arab: the Government of Iraq complained that the boats were not stopping at designated calling points, and that the boats were engaged in smuggling, while the Shaikh of Kuwait asked for the calling point requirement to be rescinded as it was causing interruptions to the water supply. The correspondence also documents instances where Iraqi customs barges had fired on Kuwaiti boats, killing and injuring merchants.

The bulk of the correspondence concerns efforts by HM Ambassador at Iraq, 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and 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. at Kuwait, to broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. an agreement between the two parties. Several conferences were arranged with a view to discussing the Iraqi proposals, viz: that a British Customs Director be appointed at Kuwait to oversee the importation of certain commodities (principally sugar, tea, matches, coffee, tobacco, cigarettes, and cigarette papers); and that the Shaikh co-operate with Iraqi efforts to institute an effective frontier control and customs cordon.

In addition to correspondence, the volume includes the following minutes and reports:

The volume includes dividers which give lists of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 4-5).

Extent and format
1 volume (673 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 675; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-672; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎151v] (307/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011513.0x00006c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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