'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎229v] (463/470)

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reestablishment of the traditional friendship between themselves and the rulers of
Kuwait, and, in order that there maybe no misunderstanding m the tuture, tliey
desire to explain their policy towards Your Excellency.
“ On the one hand, should you show to Government the same friendship and
assistance which they have experienced for many years m their dealings wit e
rulers of Kuwait, they will continue to you the assurances given to your illustnom
father, the late Shaikh Mubarak al Sabbah, especially that the town of Kuwait and
‘ its boundaries likewise belong to Shaikh Mubarak al Sabbah, Ruler oi Kuwai ,
‘ and to his heirs after him,’ and will extend to you the friendship and protection and
assistance which they gave to him and finally they hope that you will ag a m raise the
name of your house and of Kuwait to the high position which it held m the past m
the eyes of the British Government and the peoples of Aiabia.
“ On the other hand, it is the plain duty of the Ruler of a State which is on
terms of friendship with the Government to prevent all acts, either by his own
subiects or by other persons in his territory, which may be contrary to the interests ot
the Government, and since they know that, if you wish to do so, you have the power
to control your subjects and others in your territory, the Government will be compelled
to hold Your Excellency personally responsible should any such act unfortunately be
committed in the future. They hope that you will fully realise your responsibility as
the Ruler of Kuwait towards the Government under whose protection and friendship
Kuwait has so greatly prospered in the past, and will understand that that prosperity
depends entirely on the preservation of true friendship both m word and deed with
the Government.
“ Government have decided to remove the blockade provided that Y r our
Excellency takes measures of your own to prevent supplies being sent to enemies of
the Government, and hope that in taking these measures you will not hesitate to
consult 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 Lieutenant McCollum who wall remain at Kuwait as
his assistant, but in order to prevent ill-disposed persons from endeavouring to smuggle
■mods no goods will be allowed to leave India for Kuwait in future by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. or steamer
without the production of a permit signed 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. or his duly authorised
representative. Government desires that full consultation should take p.ace between
you and 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. regirding the quantities of goods required for your
territory so that the legitimate needs of your people will be safeguarded, and permits
will also be granted 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. for goods which may be necessary for
lawful trade with the subjects of the friend of all Shaikh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul
Rahman ibn Eaisal al Sa’ud.
“ gives me great pleasure to be the bearer of this message on behalf of
Government and I trust that the friendship between us may increase. This is what
had to be said and may you be preserved.”
In a long interview, characterised by very plain speaking, the various points
of the letter were discussed and the situation was made perfectly clear to Shaikh
Salim who vowed friendship and professed to consider Government’s word as his
laAV He issued a notice proclaiming his friendship and that anyone acting against
Government in word or deed would have his property taken and be banished from
Kuwait.
He was rather frightened of personal responsibility, and expressed fear of our
listening- to tale-bearers, on which point he was reassured. On July 7th Shaikh
Salim replied in writing to the same effect, and a meeting was held between 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 the Blockade Officer and representatives of the Shaikh headed
by the latter’s son, ‘ Abdullah, who was appointed to superintend the whole blockade
ami in particular to deal with exports by land. It was decided that a manifest
system should be instituted to check the exports by sea and that the existing
system of checking exports by land should be continued. Stress was laid on the point
that far more good would be done by Shaikh‘Abdullah s going round Kuwait and
turning out any enemy elements than by any amount of written passes.
Though arrangements for the issue of passes were made immediately after the
delivery of the above letter to the Shaikh (5th July), no applications for passes
were received before September 2nd. This was due to opposition on the part of
the Shaikh, in the vain attempt to get us to withdraw the restrictions on imports
which we had just instituted. Seeing, however, that it was useless to hold out further
he gave in and applications came forward, .slowly at first, but freely afterwards.