ملف ٦٩٧\ ١٩٢٠: "المرسوم الملكي البريطاني للكويت" [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٧] (٥٧٩/٤١٩)

Viceroy considered that such declaration would (1) excite the suspicions of the
neighbouring peoples, who would regard it as a prelude to annexation, and (2) provoke
jealousy of other Powers, and involve us in heavy obligations, both military and
'financial. The Viceroy suggested that the better policy would be at an inter-Allied
conference to put our cards frankly on the table, explaining our special interests and
prescriptive position m the -Persian Grulf, and the measures into which we have been
driven by the special protection of those interests, and to express the hope that those
interests and position might be tully recognised without need for further definition
11 . In December 1919 the Civil Commissioner at Bagdad raised again the question
of the making ot a jurisdictional Older m Council for Koweit (which question as wib be
seen on reference to my memorandum- in E 7915/6681/91/1921, was considered in 1911
and then left over until a settlement should have been arrived at with Turkey in regard
to the Arab littoral), but the India Office considered that although the order was
desirable in itself, and there would be an advantage in issuing it at an early date, that
moment, when the question of the machinery for the administration of the mandate for
Mesopotamia was unsettled, and the effect of v the mandate upon the relations of His
Majesty’s Government with contiguous countries was still uncertain, did not appear
opportune for its issue, a view that was endorsed by this Office.
12 . On the 9 th July, 1921, the Colonial Office, who had become responsible for
policy on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf, communicated an enquiry from the High
Commissioner, Bagdad, as to the status of Kioweit as a result of the war, and asking
whether it could not be placed on a similar basis to that of Bahrein, and whether
an Order in Council could not be issued now that Turkey had lost suzerainty over
it. The Colonial Office were told in reply that, from the legal point of view and on the
supposition that there was no intention of including Koweit within the boundaries of
Mesopotamia, the status of that territory would seem to be governed by article 132 of
the Treaty of Peace.! In practice, provided some prior agreement were reached with
the Sultan of Koweit, it would appear unlikely that any foreign Power would challenge
the issue of an Order in Council on the lines of “ The Bahrein Order in Council, 1913,"
although the extension of British jurisdiction, as in that order, to foreigners might
involve the prior concurrence of some foreign Powers. It was further suggested to the
Colonial Office that the High Commissioner, Bagdad, might be instructed to open
negotiations with the Sultan with a view to ascertaining the measure of British super
vision which the latter was prepared to accept, but that the actual issue of any Order in
Council consolidating any agreement that might be reached with the Sultan should be
postponed until the coming into force of the Treaty ot Peace with Turkey.
JOHN W. FIELD.
, Foreign Office, March 29, 1922.
* Not printed , . v „ lir 0 f the Principal Allied Powers all
t By article 132 of the Treaty of Sevres, Turkey renounced >» fav °“ r “ f “ *
!ts and title over territories outside Europe not otherwise dispos , y