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Coll 17/18(1) 'Smuggling between Kuwait and Iraq' [‎431r] (866/1354)

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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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4^ ■
\ f
addressed a Mote to the ’Iraq Government • ^he latter
refused this ’round table’ discuBsion on the ground t h^t
they considered H no useful -purpose rouM be served by a
conference at Kmait until the Shaikh has agreed in principle
to enforce certain measures of co-©Deration in Gustoms
control, or has made concrete proposals of bis cron. rt (Vide
paragraph 2 of your letter Ho.36 of 19th Aumst 1933). In
view of the nature of the Shaikh’s reply, which was entirely
vague, the ’Iraq Government were doubtless technically rif#vfc
In refusing to Participate in the discussion, but from a
practical point of view it is a pity that they took this
somewhat unbend i np attitude as good mi edit have cone from a
friendly discussion, and certainly no harm would have been
don e.
5. fim next effort towards a solution of the smuggling
question was the proposed Conference at Baghdad which has had
to be Postponed under circumstances sufficiently explained
in the previous comespondence.
6. I entirely agree that the '>hai kh by refusing the
Conference has lost a good opportunity of adjusting matters
with the Iraq Government, especially as the latter were
willing to discuss his complaints against the action of
’Iraq Customs vessels. But there is no need f 'or me to
remind the Gft&i idi again ~hat he relies on ’Iraqi good-will
for his water supply. I have not failed duripr the past
year when the subject of smuggling has bee n die cuss ed to
impress on him:
(l) fhat whatever may be the posit ion as to the
Bate Gardens and Bin Baud’s Blockade the matt er of smuggling
is enti rely his resoonsibility ard not I r is Majesty’s
Gov rnment’s.
(p) That if he does not co-operate with the ’Iraq
Government/

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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' [‎431r] (866/1354), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2878, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063011516.0x000043> [accessed 14 May 2024]

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