'File 53/1, 3, 5, 6 A (D 1) Koweit [Kuwait] affairs, 1896-1901'

Content

This file contains correspondence between various British officials regarding political affairs in Kuwait.

The file includes copies of direct correspondence between Shaikh Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ, the ruler of Kuwait and British officials regarding Mubarak's desire for British protection and the nature of Kuwait's relationship with the Ottoman Empire.

The file contains a number of reports (in their original Arabic with English translations attached) concerning political affairs in Kuwait that were written by Ali bin Ghulam Reza, a news agent in Kuwait employed by the British.

On folio 7 the file contains a geographical and historical summary of Kweit [Kuwait] that gives details regarding the recent takeover of power by Moubarec [Mubārak]. The file contains further information on the location, population and economy of Kuwait on folio 99.

Extent and format

1 volume (387 folios)

Arrangement

The file is arranged in chronological order and is divided into four sections as follows:

Pages 1-86: 53/1 Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs 1896-1897

Pages 87-216: 53/3 Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs 1897-1898

Pages 217-349: 53/5 Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs 1899-1900

Pages 350-373: 53/6A Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs 1899 - 1901

A title page is included in the file at the beginning of each new section and an index of topics discussed in the file is contained on folios 2-5.

The page numbers used in both the index and the four chronological sections relate to the original foliation system of the file that uses a mechanical stamp.

Physical characteristics

Condition: Formerly a bound correspondence volume, the file's sheets have been unbound and are now loose.

Foliation: The volume has been foliated from the first page of text in the volume until to the inside back cover using circled pencil numbers in the top right-corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . There is an earlier, possibly original, foliation sequence that runs through the volume, which uses a mechanical stamp.

The following foliation anomalies occur in the file: 27a, 27b, 130a, 130b, 170a, 170b, 174a, 179a, 179b, 293a, 293b, 310a, 310b, 323a and 323b.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/471

Former external reference(s)

A Series: 53/1 A Series: 53/3 A Series: 53/5 A Series: 53/6A Confidential Series: D 1

History of this record

Date(s)

24 Jul 1896-3 Oct 1900 (CE, Gregorian)

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Cite this record in your research

'File 53/1, 3, 5, 6 A (D 1) Koweit [Kuwait] affairs, 1896-1901', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/471, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0001bc> [accessed 26 March 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0001bc

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