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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎411r] (826/1354)

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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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3-
item (c;. On the land, as far as ± know, no
frontier incidents affecting Kuwaitis and Irani s have
occurred: such incidents have been confined to clashes
between the ’Iraqi Customs officials and, Irani smugglers.
lith regard to the reasons put forward in oara-
6
graph 11 of His Excellency the Ambassador’s despatch, to the
effect that a Conference such as the one on smuggling was
of the type where the Shaikh’s representation should be
undertaken bv British officials. My objections to either
Colonel Hickson or myself or both representing the Shaikh
at such a Conference are based on considerations for the
interests of neither Kuwait nor ’Iran, but for those of
His Majesty’s Government . The latter have already a
number of commitments of varying responsibility with regard
to Kuwait affairs. The Bate Gardens, concerning which they
gave a definite promise to the Shaikh, is one; Ibr? J3auc’s
biock ade* concerning which no actual promise was given but
certain hones were held out, is another; the pro t e c 1 1 on of
the whole of the Kuwait Hrincipolity - vide 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.
despatch Ho.lM* 7 6R3/33, dated the 1st February 1934, to the
Ho^eimn Office, is a third; while Oil interests represent
a fourth. l do not imagine that His Majesty’s Govern-
rnent , if they can avoid it, wish to take on their
shoulders any further responsibilities with regard to
Kuwait, At Present the Kuwait-’Iraq smiiggling is not such
a responsihiliKr. His Majesty’s Governnentt have given

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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' [‎411r] (826/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011516.0x00001b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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