Skip to item: of 1,354
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎217r] (438/1354)

This item is part of

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

authorities in Iraq, that (a) not loss than £S0 f 000 annually i®
lost to the Iraqi Treasury and (h) the contraband business, which
is undoubtedly lucrative when the cargo gets through, is on the
increase.
°* Th ® authorities strongly suspect that one of the
reasons for the hhai&h'e continued refusal to take any active
steps to combat this illicit trade is that he benefits personally
by a share in the handsome profits derived from it. hven if
this is unt 2 *ue, he probaoly considers that the prosperity of his
State is to some extent bound up with it, especially since the
decline of profits derived from the pearl fisheries began to 'be
Xelt by hia subjects. It is argued therefore that unless strong
mia stem measures are taken by Iraq, smuggling will continue
rife ami unchecked at the source. The advocates of the policy
of marnmrnm economic blockade have not yet had their way because
the cooler headed Iraqi statesmen are reluctant to do anything
to embarrass, or to raise difficulties vis-k-via His Majesty 9 a
dovemment* The continued delay in reaching' any sort of agree—
s&ent with the Shaikh is, however, making it more and more difficult
and unless something quite definite is done quickly, 1 fear that
the advocates of a strict blockade will shortly gain their point
?# In paragraph 5 of your despatch under referees# the
view is expressed that it is for the Iraqi Oevemment to take the
initiative in the matter of suggesting measures of co-operation
In which the Shaikh might join. I would point out, however, that
*
the Iraqi aovemmont have already placed two separate sets of
proposals before the .Jhalkh for his consideration. The first
scheme is described in paragraph 3 of my despatch Ho. '3d of 15th
ebruary last and was placed officially before the • haikh, who,
except for denying the existence of emugglingt returned merely a
non-comittal reply. lie vised proposals were submitted to him for
his consideration by the Iraqi delegates at their meeting in -ept-
ember, as reported in &c& paragraph 4 of Colonel Loch's express
/letter

About this item

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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎217r] (438/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011514.0x000027> [accessed 18 April 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100063011514.0x000027">Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [&lrm;217r] (438/1354)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100063011514.0x000027">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000602.0x0001a4/IOR_L_PS_12_2878_0438.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000602.0x0001a4/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image