File 2902/1916 ‘Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf’ [‎155r] (320/448)

No. 3557, dated Bushire, the 24th November (received 9th December) 1913 (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Z. Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., 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. ,
Ti—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to refer to the correspondence ending with Foreign
Department letter No. 341-E.B, dated 24th January 1906, regarding a compila
tion of treaties between the British Government and the Trucial Chiefs.
The custom inaugurated in 1904, of handing to each Chief, on his acces
sion, a copy of the principal Treaties by
dateShf 12 th octoberioo? letter X °' 3460 ' E ' B ’ which his predecessors were bound, coupled
with an invitation to him to notify un
reservedly his acceptance of them and other obligations attaching to him in
practice, apart from formal conventions, has been found to he convenient and
useful, and has led to a suggestion that a similar, but' confidential, publication,
covering the English and Arabic versions of all treaties and undertakings of
importance between the British Government and the other Eulers on the
Arab Coast with whom we are in Treaty relations, would prove of similar use
and value.
2. I have therefore under compilation, with the assistance of the Political
Agents concerned, a collection of such documents, both in the original Arabic
and in English, and have the honour to submit the collection regarding
Kuwait herewith.
I hope to be in a position to submit the Maskat and Bahrain collections
shortly, together with copies of certain further documents relating to the
Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , which it is convenient to have on record in the original Arabic,
though it does not seem necessary or desirable at present to furnish the Chiefs
with copies.
3. The agreement entered into by the Shaikh of Kuwait in 1841 to
maintain the Maritime Truce for a period of one year, which forms the first
item in the present collection, has not been brought to the notice of Govern
ment before, as far as I am aware, and no translation of it is to be found in
Aitchison. I myself was not aware of its existence until a few days ago, when
it came to light whilst the originals of other old treaties were being looked for. j
4. I venture to suggest, for the consideration of Government, that the
collection now enclosed be suitably printed, in English and Arabic, each
document or set of documents on separate pages, English and Arabic separate;
and would ask that this Eesidency may be favoured with 30 copies of the
collection, for purposes of record. It would be convenient if 5 copies could be
supplied suitably bound, the remainder in loose sets.
This arrangement will make it possible to furnish a Chief on his accession,
or at other times, without inconvenience or delay, on receipt of orders from
. , Government,, with copies of the Treaties
Vide correspondence ending with Foreign Depart- i/i- i
ment letter No. 3134-e.b, dated the i5th August and other undertakings by wTnch he IS
1905 - bound and which it may be considered
expedient to communicate to him as was done at Bahrain at the request of the
Shaikh himself in 1905.
Apart from this, it is convenient to have on record, in an accessible and
authoritative form, the text of these treaties, some of the originals of which are
of old date and too fragile to be handled oftener than is absolutely necessary.
ilseaived on 22 JUL ’i(jwElj
INDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. No, - 1 M