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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎220r] (444/1354)

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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. .

Transcription

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SuaMry for the first half of Hoveaber, it aa</ dedu<Je(1 that
t,iie i haiidi himself would welcome such a step by the Iraqi Govern-
H© would t however, do well to tawe further thought. Gives
the length and nature of the frontier to be protected, the con-
structIttn and maintenamo© of an adequate line of custom© posts
would be costly and difficult. Once established, the Iraqi
Government could be relied upon to $©© that they got full value
for their money, and I cannot but feel that it would be the first
step towards the more drastic measures outlined in paragraph 2 ©t
seq above ending In the complete blockade of Kuwait. These
apprehension© are shared by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who
informed m© frankly that he deeply deplored the frequent ocaasions
during the last two year© on which his Majesty*© Msabassy felt
impelled to protest against the growing number of alleged incidents,
the truth of which it ms impossible, in present circumstances, to
ascertain. h© hinted, however, (and 1 cannot but feel that he
i© right., , that if large numbers of preventive officials and
possibly police and troops are posted along tlie frontier, they
will naturally work as near as possible to the centre of the siaeggl
ing activity, anti the number of clashes is likely to increase
rather than diminish. In all the circumstances, therefor©, I am
loth to encourage the Iraqi mover meat to taka the contemplated
step unless and until It is clear* that no other course is feasible,
and until course (b) has received consideration.
3-3* As regards this course, the Minister for foreign Affairs
appealed to me to try and persuade my wovemmeni, as the Protector
of Kuwait, to arrive at an understanding with the Iraqi Govemaeat
as to what sort of arrange meat could reasonably and fairly be put
to the Shaikh and then to make it clear that unless he accepted he
would forfeit the sympathy of his Majesty*a Government and coiild
look for no support fro® them in this particular* matter. Given the
present conciliatory attitude of the Iraqi Government, I feel that
this appeal merits serious consideration.
/14

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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' [‎220r] (444/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011514.0x00002d> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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