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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎202r] (408/1354)

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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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connection. I must point out that even if I were to attend the
suggested conference it would be quite impossible for me to
say what proposals could ’fairly 1 be ^ut to the Shaikh by the
Iraq Government. It does not seem to me that any question
of fairness enters into this matter which is one of policy
and expediency between the two parties concerned: the Iraq
Government and the Shaikh. It is for the Shaikh to say,
having regard to all the circumstances as they affect him and
his State, (of which naturally he is the best judge), to what
extent he is prepared to meet the Iraqi proposals, and this is
not a responsibility which I can take off his shoulders.
5* I quite realise that the considerations which I have
put forward above would naturally not have occurred to His
Excellency► Such considerations would only have been apparent
from my point of view, and if I have stressed them somewhat
it is merely with a view to explaining as clearly as possible;
how undesirable a conference on the proposed, lines would be
as far as I am concerned• Should the Iraqi ofxicials Qt;
eliminated from the conference it is hardly necessary ...oi me
to say that I shall be only too pleased to visit Bagdau, in
company with Colonel Dickson, for a conversation with His
Excellency at any time convenient to tin•
6. Witt regard to course (b) in paragraph 10, am para-
gra h 12, of Sir Francis Humphrys ’ despatch, to the general
effect that His Majesty's Government might consider the
possibility of intervening and bringing pressure to on
the Shaikh in his own interests. Personalxy I e... c-
that the days are definitely past when we can regard the
Shaikhs of the Arab Coast, at any rate the more important
of them, as if they were minors to be made to ao t.^s or
flicif , /

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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' [‎202r] (408/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011514.0x000009> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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