'File 4/12 Shaikh and Subah [al-Sabah] Family --- Miscellaneous'

Content

This file contains correspondence between British officials related to a number of different topics that all concern members of the al-Sabah ruling family of Kuwait.

The topics discussed are as follows:

• The financial conditions of Shaikh Hamud al-Jabir al-Sabah, 1938 (folios 2-8).
• Tensions between different factions within the al-Sabah family, 1940-41 (folios 9-27).
• Details regarding transferring Shaikh Ali al-Khalifah al-Sabah to Lebanon for medical treatment and his subsequent death in 1942 (folios 73-76,121-124,127).
• The sudden illness and then recuperation of the Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah in 1942 (folios 44-138).
• An incident in which one of the ruler's sons, Muhammad, was shot by Iraqi forces during a hunting trip in the south of Iraq, 1945 (folios 142-162,166-176).
• An article that was published in the Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram containing an interview with Shaikh Ahmad, 1945-46 (folios 163-165).
• The reaction to Lebanon awarding a number of al-Sabah family members civil honours, 1949 (folios 177-179)

The majority of the correspondence is between British officials but the file also contains some correspondence between Shaikh Ahmad and the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Kuwait that is in Arabic (accompanied by English translations). A limited amount of correspondence with officials of the Government of Iraq is also present.

In addition to correspondence, the file also contains a list of al-Sabah family members which lists their name, profession, age, physical characteristics and other remarks (folios 27-29) and a note on the health of Shaikh Ahmad prepared by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Kuwait (folios 57-61).

Extent and format

1 file (185 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 187; 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 34-174; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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/15/5/194

Former external reference(s)

File 4/12

History of this record

Date(s)

21 Aug 1938-27 Oct 1949 (CE, Gregorian)

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

'File 4/12 Shaikh and Subah [al-Sabah] Family --- Miscellaneous', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/194, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0000b9> [accessed 24 March 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0000b9

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0000b9/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content