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'File 2/2 IV Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling' [‎193r] (390/542)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (267 folios). It was created in 23 May 1935-13 Jun 1936. 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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Telegram 3.55,
From Embassy, Baghdad.
To Hesident, Bushire.
Tolit ical ^tgent, Kuwait.
No. (?) 86 .
Dated the 20 th ^pril 1956.
Your telegram No. 75 *
I have na: received note from Mini^r of Foreign
affairs ^ich gives version of stoiy. IthYtLt incident
occurred in (?)Kuwait territory and justified action on
grounds that loading was taking place in an unauthorized

place, arrest and findings were ?£f^ri r Uraqi i aw# j
am advised that this is so, if in fact the arrested persons
were operating in Iraq territory, ii ve^ frank discussion
between Bateman and British colleague Customs at Basra shows
incident occurred at a spot where in the absence of
definite frontier mark it is most difficult for Iraqi
Customs officials to know exactly -whether they are at any
given time in Iraqi or Kuwait territory. This difficulty
will continue until some effort is made to mark the frontier
and territorial water limits at least at salient points
in the neighbourhood of junction of Khor nabiyah and
Khor Dubair .
Prime Minister with whom I have discussed
difficulties present situation has always expressed
willingness that all evidence should be sifted and blame
allotted for incidents as and when they occur by British
Police or Port Officer and I am continuing (?,) to press
that present case should be so examined. I intend
Kuwait within next few days and shall ask ahaikh to cooperate
in putting up such ground mark or
enable Iraqi Customs officers
to determine actual position,
suspect Kuwait is at any given time
I have gained impression

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Content

The volume contains correspondence related to Kuwait-Iraq smuggling. British officials stood as mediators between the Iraqi Government and the Shaikh of Kuwait to try and solve the smuggling issue. They discussed possible ways to persuade the Shaikh of Kuwait to agree to a friendly arrangement for cooperation for checking smuggling on the lines which had been contemplated. British Government officials also suggested various methods to control smuggling such as a system of manifests, trade control posts, as well as the appointment of a British Director of Customs at Kuwait.

The volume includes minutes of a meeting held in London discussing the question of Kuwait-Iraq smuggling with the Shaikh of Kuwait, a list of regulations of the Customs Code in Iraq issued by the King of Iraq and published in the official gazette, correspondence related to a number of cases of violation of Kuwaiti territorial waters by Iraq Customs launches, as well as the arrest and detention of Kuwaiti nationals.

The Shaikh raised his complaints 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. who in turn shared the Shaikh’s concerns with other British officials. On the other hand, complaints were also raised by the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the Kuwaiti Government’s lack of control of its border lines.

Lists of violation incidents are also included in the volume. Each list includes the following information: date and place of occurrence by whom, a summary of the incident, date of report to the 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. and the Iraqi Government’s reply. The volume also includes summary lists of Iraqi newspaper articles which discuss Iraq-Kuwait related issues including smuggling, and the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq.

Extent and format
1 volume (267 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 269; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 2/2 IV Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling' [‎193r] (390/542), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/131, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045050705.0x0000bf> [accessed 23 July 2026]

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