File 4535/1928 Pt 8 ‘ – PERSIAN GULF – QUESTION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTORATES OVER KOWEIT, BAHREIN, MUSCAT, TRUCIAL COAST.’ [‎78r] (149/194)

CONFIDENTIAL.
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. ,
B. 395.
P. 4221/28.
KOWEIT, 1908-1928.
A.—Administration.
1. Sheikh Ahmad-al Jabir, C.I.E. (January 1922), born 1885, has ruled
Koweit since March 1921, when his succession to his uncle, Sheikh Salim
(born 1864, succeeded 1917, died 23rd February 1921), who had ruled
since the death of Sheikh Jabir Ibn Mabarak in 1917, was recognised by His
Majesty’s Government, subject, it would appear, to agreement to impose
and enforce through his territory such further restrictions on the arms c.o to h c Iraq April 2
traffic as might be considered desirable. On the invitation of His Majesty’s 1921 > p -
Government, the Sheikh visited the United Kingdom in October 1919, as
the i epi esentative of his uncle, with the son of Ibn Saud, and was received
by the King. His Excellency is entitled to a permanent salute of seven P 4^1 •>.
guns, the number having been reduced from 12 (personal) on his accession.
2 . The principality is an independent Arab State, under British
protection, but not a British protectorate.- Its ruler is precluded by his * vicerov’stei. ims
engagements, of which an abstract is printed in the Precis of Treaties 0ct -« 1920, p. 7455. ’
appended to this .Memorandum, from receiving foreign representatives, and
from ceding, leasing, mortgaging, or giving for occupation, or any other
purpose, any portion of its territory to any foreigner or foreign Power
without the sanction of His Majesty’s Government; he is bound to & suppress
slave traffic and to prohibit traffic in arms within his territories ; and he has
agreed not to give a concession for oil, or for pearl fishing, without the
approval of His Majesty’s Government.
o
O.
to
The internal administration is conducted by the Sheikh, assisted in
theoiy b> an elected Council of Advisers (two from the Subah or reigning f xei f ror u q
family, four from the inhabitants, elected for one year), acceptance of cto., March41921, 1
which was made for the first time a condition of recognition by the people R 1376/2L
of Koweit on the accession of the present Sheikh.f The Council, though
duly elected, has, however, never met.if
4. His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India are
represented by 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 present Major J. C. More, D.S.O.),
an appointment created in 1904, maintained since that date save for a brief Lor. h, 1039 - 40 .
mteival in 1905, and borne on the cadre of the Indian Political Department.
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. is directly subordinate to 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
leisian Gulf., He does not hold His Majesty’s Commission as a Consul or
exercise Consular functions. Under the Koweit Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. of 1925
(see paras. 24-27 below), he is the District Magistrate and Sessions Judge,
and exercises his powers subject to the jurisdiction of 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. ; the limits of his jurisdiction are the territories and
territorial waters of Koweit, and he exercises jurisdiction inter alios
over British subjects and protected persons, and over the subjects and
protected persons (not, being subjects or protected persons of Muslim
Governments) of Foreign States in respect of whom the Foreign States
concerned may agree to the exercise of such jurisdiction.
5. I he effect of the recommendations of the .Masterton-Smith Committee
of 1921 was to leave control of the internal administration and affairs of
Koweit to the Government of India (to whom, and not to- His Majesty’s
Government, 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 Gulf was instructed in 1924 to c/. P. 1836/24 and 540 A /23
took for orders regarding them), subject to the general control of His
Majesty’s Government, and to the prior concurrence of the Colonial Office
in matters of political significance. Questions of policy, especially Questions mc r. ... .>
affecting relations with Ibn Saud, fell to be dealt with by the Colonial Office, r*™. ep0lt ’
Ihe question of the channels through which the instructions of His Majesty’s
Government are to issue on matters affecting the Principality is dealt with
in para. 5 of the Note on Political Control in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on uao-e
,, C o ass."
( >. Expenditure on Koweit is divided between His Majesty’s Government
and the Government of India. In the latest year for which figures are
available (1926-/) it amounted to Rs. 45,683, pfois payments in respect of
pension contribution amounting to Rs. 9,423, a total of Rs. 55,106.
2979c • 75 10.28
P. 3108/28.