"ملف ٦/٤ I الحدود الكويتية-العراقية" [و‎‎٨‎١] (٧٥١/١٧٠)

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At the same time the British Government assured Shaikh Mubarak
that they recognised tRaat the town of Kuwait and its boundaries
belonged to him and to his heirs after him: that all his
arrangements, including customs arrangements, would remain in
his hands and in those of his heirs after him: and that the
British Government would collect no customs duties in the Bandar
Shuwaikh lands or in any other lands that they might there
after lease from him or his heirs after him. The Bandar Shuwaik
Shuwaikh lease was relinquished Jn 1922.
In 1911 shaikh Mubarak gave an under talking (No. XXX IX)
not to respond, without consulting the Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf, to overtures for pearling concessions and sponge
fishing in respect of the banks over v/hich he possessed rights.
In 1912 Shaikh Mubarak gave a written undertaking (No.
XLI) not to permit the exploitation of Oil in his territories
by any one except a parson recommended by the British Govern
ment.
The outbreak of the Great War excited little interest
in Kuwait until the entry of Turkey into the Var, which
aroused some sympathy with her. This, however, did not last
and in return for Shaikh Mubarak f s unswerving loyalty and
offer of cooperation during the War, the British Government
guaranteed him against all consequences of his attack on
Safwan, Umm Qasr and Bublyan, and assured him that his date
gardens between Fao and Qumah would remain in the possession
of himself and his heirs and be immune from taxation for
ever and that Kuwait would be recognised as an independent
principality under British protection. (No.XLII)*
It had been agreed in 1913 theft an Indian Post Office
should be established at Kuwait on the ratification of the
Anglo-Turkish Convention, and an. Office was in fact opened
under the orders of the Government of India at the beginning
of 1915.
In February 1915 the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, visited
Kuwait.
Ill