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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎395r] (794/1354)

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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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to expXMn to Ur. MimrtB in several lengthy talks, the
fthaikh’s view noint in the matter of the so-called
simiggli 9$ , as well as the great harm that
conti^e4 political pressure U havl.^ on the aricable
relations existing 'between the two States, whieh the
Shaikh above all Persons is no anxious to maintain.
^ • ~ think I was able to tell Hr ."'Edmonds, several
things about the smuggling trade generally and in
particular about the guilty activitien ©f the ’Iraq tribes
themselves, which he did not know before. I hope also
that 1 was able to ennvinee him that the people of Kuwait
did no smuggling theme Ives at all on the land side, and
that by sea only a verv small percentage of the fishing
community went in for the game.
7 • Ur. Mnon&u an scored surprised, 3 think, at my
statement that the smuggling fraternity whether engaged in
the contraband running to 'ersla, Saudi Arabia, or ’Iraq
were in P8 cases out of 100 , nationals of those countries.
I gathered Kr.-klmnda that before visit in if
Kuwait, he had already been up the Khor Abdulla (to its
head) with OUlorel v tord, and had also vi sited the
Southern ’Iraq desert, west of the w Bat in’’valley, so the
presumption is 4 hat both were engaged on some scheme where
by ’Iraq could bring effective measures to bear on their
own nationals engaged in the smuggling business. This is
all to the good of course.
9. Whilst I am, and ahaU nlways be, only too delight
ed to furnish Information on such things as ’eemargl 1 ng T ’
etc. to di st 1 nguished persons like Mr. 1Sd»ond» and folonel
K R -y} # 1 should prefer, if possible, that they let me know
acme time/

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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' [‎395r] (794/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011515.0x0000c3> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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