'File 13/3 Arms Traffic'

Content

The file contains correspondence regarding arms traffic through Kuwait to Turkish territory, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Persia, and British measures prohibiting contraband.

The main correspondents are: the Ruler of Kuwait, Mubarak us Subah (Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ); the Foreign Office; Percy Cox, 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. ; and Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear, 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. in Kuwait.

There are notes containing names of merchants dealing in firearms and ammunition in Kuwait and in Oman. The majority of the documents in the volume deals with a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. involved in arms trading in Muscat, flying the French flag; where the British request the French to intervene. The volume contains a copy of the 'Titre de Navigation' of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , and extract of correspondence.

There are some documents in Arabic within the file, copies of letters from and to Shaikh Mubarak and receipts for arms and ammunition confiscated 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. , and some in French, copies of documents produced by the French Consulate in Muscat.

Extent and format

1 volume (302 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume. There is an index of names at the end of the volume (folio 303), which refers to names and pages which are not in the volume.

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 304; 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 mixed foliation/pagination sequence is also present in parallel throughout; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are either not circled or 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/15/5/45

Former external reference(s)

Kuwait Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , First Series subject files 13/3

History of this record

Date(s)

30 Mar 1909-17 Dec 1912 (CE, Gregorian)

Places

Oman

People & organisations

Foreign OfficePolitical Resident, Persian GulfShaikh Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ, Hakim of Kuwait

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Cite this record in your research

'File 13/3 Arms Traffic', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/45, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0003c8> [accessed 24 March 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0003c8

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