'File 4/5 Kuwait State: Shaikh of Kuwait, Status of and Salutes for' [‎181r] (361/370)

CONFIDENTIAL
THE POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
No.C/267(4/5)
KUWAIT,
31st October, 1949.
I notice that sorcetiire ago His Highness complained
to McCAndrew of the exiguousness of his salute by comparison
with that of a Vice-Admiral - para 3 of McCAndrew’s letter
No.R/60(18/2) of the 28th August, 1948 refers and it seems
to me that the tirre has come to consider whether His Highness*
personal salute should be Increased. Indeed, I am not certain
that the time has not come for the salutes of both Bahrain
and Kuwait to be raised. They are both at present entitled
to dynastic salutes of 7 guns and personal salutes of 11
guns.
2. In the Kathiawar Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , where I was last, there
were 11 States, none of which had dynastic salutes of less
than 9 guns and four of which had dynastic salutes of 13
guns. None of them had a revenue comparable to that of
Kuwait and none was so internationally important.
3. His Highness is very keen that something should
be done to increase his personal status to mark the change
in Kuwait*s importance that has resulted from its develop
ment. There is a danger that any foreign powers that might
succeed in establishing themselves here would be willing to
accede to His Highness* wishes in this respect, and I would
suggest that we anticipate them. In view of the length of
time that His Highness has been ruling here (27 years) and
of his age - he is 63 -, the greatly increased importance
of modern Kuwait, and the excellent cooperation we have
had from His Highness and his officials who whatever they
themselves might like to do take their cue very much from
His Highness, I should like strongly to recommend that
his personal salute be increased to 13 guns or even 15
guns.
4. He is older and has been ruling his State very
much longer than any of the other Rulers of the major
Gulf States and, if you do not think there is sufficient
reason for raising Bahrain at the same time, a personal
distinction for Sheikh Ahmed could be explained on these
grounds.
5. He was last decorated In January 1944 with the
K.C.S.I.(honorary)•
/
H.E. Sir Rupert Hay, KCIE.,CSI
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. ,
Persian fulf,
Bahrain.