'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎59r] (122/222)

105
(iii) The Consul will correspond with the Kuwait authorities only through 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. except in purely routine matters. Routine matters are
defined as—
(a) trade enquiries and information;
(b) transmission of general information material;
(c) condolences and congratulations. On these matters the Consul
will correspond with the Shaikh's Secretary."( 36<J )
His Majesty's Government agreed that the Consul might have access to the Ruler
on certain occasions provided all such interviews were arranged by the Political
Agent, who would himself be present. The Ruler concurred in the conditions
and in the issue by himself of a letter of authority (Appendix J), a point on which
the Americans had insisted. The Consul arrived in Kuwait on June 28 and was
presented to the Ruler three days later. In his commission his appointment was
stated to be for " Kuwait and its prescribed district " and the United States Embassy
in London confirmed that this was meant to include the Neutral Zone.( 370 ) They
stated that their Embassy in Jedda would in due course be obtaining Ibn Saud's
consent to the Consul's exercising his functions in the Zone.
165. The appointment did not, as had been expected, lead to demands for
similar representation by other States. A Vice-Consul was in due course added to
the Consul's staff with Her Majesty's Government's approval. On one occasion
in 1952 the Consul made direct enquiries from the Kuwait Municipality on the
subject of roads, and on the Ruler's complaining the Consul apologised to 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. .( 371 ) Apart from this the Consulate has strictly observed the
conditions prescribed for it, and its behaviour so far as Her Majesty's Government
are concerned has up to date been impeccable and its relations with the Political
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. have been excellent.
166. Although the Americans own a half interest in the Kuwait Oil Company
and the whole of the American Independent Oil Company the number of Americans
employed in Kuwait does not amount to more than about a hundred A Mission
of the Dutch American Reformed Church of America has done excellent medical
work over many years. United States ships visit Kuwait from time to time and
between 1948 and 1953 a United States Navy Survey Ship earned out a
hydrographic survey of Kuwait waters.
VIII.—Miscellaneous
(a) Jurisdiction
167 The first Kuwait Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. came into force on October 1, 1925.( )
Under it jurisdiction over British subjects and P ro t ec ^ eoL^ed to^the
protected persons of non-Muslim foreign Governments who had consen^
exercise of such jurisdiction by His Majesty, an p 0 )iti C al Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. as being
ot ..he, Muslim Go.—, S
i;
flits' hi-,
non-Muslim Power committing an " n ce r " ■f^^Udings the matter should at
or of such a person beoming , Government who, on learning that
once be brought to the notice ^ from the Government of the
such a case had ansen would take step ^ ^ ^ ^ u
person concerned caS es were tried under this Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. ,
the Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. . Only three cas a forei n Government about the
and in none of them was it i^cess y ^ be that nationals 0 f the
exercise of jurisdiction ovc [ , ^ ^ t heory British-protected persons, have in
other Gulf Shaikhdoms, although m theory t J Llrlsdlction
practice always been treated as subj u ^ •
. 1 • ksne a new Order m Council embodying a
168. In 1933 it was aecid-i. t f w hich was the omission of any
number of amendments, the most important 01 wm
U ^ f Tannarv 17 1951 (EA 1904/1 of 1951).
( 369 ) F O to P R Despatch 6 of January i / ,
ft " o " < "" " 5a I
( 372 ) Para. 26 at p. 78, P.G. 13. p 2
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