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'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎182r] (381/455)

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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. .

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-3-
surrounded by retainers, almost free, out of the produce
of his flocks and reources in kind. Only today I heard
from Harris, Manager of the that
a periodic payment of £.1000/- by the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company to the Sheikh's account has been changed by the
Sheikh's instructions to the name of, he thought, Subah
bih Ahmad Jabir, who is his son aged about eleven years.
Harris promised to confirm this. It was a rather mysterious
account which was apparently not in connection with the
Kuwait Oil Company. Obviously too there are good many
perquisites of office for a Ruling Sheikh, whatever the
constitution. On the other hand the Sheikh told me that in
accordance with the Council's inaugural law he had promised
that he would at the end of the year, when it is due, transfer
the Kuwait Oil Company's cheque^about £.7000/, to ghe
Council and all the main resources of the country will now
go into the Council's hand; so that he can't be considered
to be "screwing" any longer.
Xt seems to me that whoever is politically on the
underside for the moment here is in favour of a British
Adviser. It is not so long ago since the present members
of the Council were sending me messages to say that they
wanted an Adviser to control the Sheikh. Now that they are in
office I do not think they would favour one for a moment. It
is not so much the advice they dread as his "interference
and hundred percent efficiency. However I foresee that the
time may come when the Council will begin to fall out among
themselves, and I dare say, although there are no signs of
it at the moment, that an opposition outside the council
may form and presumably will drift to the Sheikh's side.
There may come a moment when the Council ask for assistance
In the interval, it is possible, out of zeal and rawness,
they may be rather a nuisance, and without really meaning
to do so may raise serious issues , or by some hasty order

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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
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'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎182r] (381/455), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/468, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023666189.0x0000b5> [accessed 18 August 2026]

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