!['File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎78r] (173/455)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0001b9/IOR_R_15_1_468_0177.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎78r] (173/455)")
'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [78r] (173/455)
The record is made up of 1 volume (222 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1938-19 Sep 1938. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
78
AD:.:iins?R>. .TON OF nr.^rr .
G eneral>
As will be seon belov; the "uwait adrainistratlon
costs the present Ruler very little. He has been able to
buy large estates in ISgypt, and place considerable sums x
to his private credit, without hindrance from his family
or his people. In spite of this it is frequently and
rightly commented upon by visitors that the people on
the whole seem happier in Jluviai t than in any of the
surrounding countries. Open criticism of the Ruler and
the administration, although growing, has been confined
to certain of his notables, articles in the Ira. i
newspapers, and recently some broad-sheets distributed
secretly.
The Ruler is never tired of pointing at the
administration of his neighbours, either to Ira,-, v; lie re
behind a facade of westernization, there is much
unpleasant and best hid, or in Saudi Arabia, where
punishiients such as that reported in His La jo sty *3
Minister^ Summary of Jvents for February, jara 48, and
the cutting off of the right hand for theft of goods
~'orth more than £5, are not uncoramon, and where slave-
trading, i spite of Anti-slavery Regulations, is I
I
reported to continue. Nothing puts the Ruler in a gayer I
mood than tales of the simplicity, and "Savagery" as he
calls it, of the Ttucial Coast Lhaikhdoms. It is only
f-ir to the Ruler to touch very briefly upon such things
before beginning to describe the rluwai t administration,
in which shertcomings will be readily apparent.
So The most remarkable feature of the administration
is tbftt oae of the Shaihh's cousins, also his son-in-law, !
-^•i-- n al-J-oir, perr^a.nan'i Presi dent of the
—cipaii ^ , magistrate, chief o Police, Director-
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence relating to the formation of a Legislative Council in Kuwait following unrest among its people and criticism of its government in the Iraqi press. Included are newspaper articles, a list of the names of those elected to the Legislative Council of Kuwait (folio 75) and a list of demands made by the Council (folio 76). The main correspondents include: Gerald De Gaury, 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. at Kuwait; Trenchard Fowle, 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. at Bushire; Lawrence Dundas, Secretary of State for India; the Foreign Office in London; Maurice Peterson, British Ambassador in Iraq; Air Officer Commanding for British Forces in Iraq; Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah [Āl Ṣabāḥ, Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir], ruler of Kuwait; and other Government of India officials.
The correspondence includes:
- Abdication discussions about Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait;
- Overview of the administration and control of justice, education, medical services, municipalities and desert land (folios 83-99);
- Appointment of a British customs officer in Kuwait;
- Opposition of the Persian population of Kuwait to the Legislative Council.
There are internal office notes at the back of the volume (folios 207-214), written by officials of the British Political 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. at Bushire.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (222 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged chronologically. At the beginning (folio 1C) is a subject index, arranged alphabetically. The numbers refer to folio numbers.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio. The folio numbers are written in pencil in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. Circled index numbers in red crayon can also be found throughout the volume. There are the following irregularities: 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D; 30 and 30A. Folio 200 is omitted.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [78r] (173/455), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/468, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023666188.0x0000ad> [accessed 25 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023666188.0x0000ad
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023666188.0x0000ad">'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎78r] (173/455)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023666188.0x0000ad"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0001b9/IOR_R_15_1_468_0177.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000193.0x0001b9/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/468
- Title
- 'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:1v, 1ar:1ev, 2r:7v, 11r:11v, 12v:13v, 14v:19v, 22r:30v, 30ar:30av, 31r:31v, 35r:51v, 55r:55v, 59r:62v, 65r:65v, 69r:102v, 105r:177v, 180r:218v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence