"ملف ٤/ ٤١ دولة الكويت: القنصلية العراقية في الكويت" [و‎‎١‎٧] (٣٨/٣٣)

(E 6995/1903/91)
CQNEIDEftTlAL
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W. 1.
14th September, 19^9.
Dear Humphrey,
Will you please refer to your letter No.852/2/49
of the 18th July about the establishment of an Iraqi
Consulate in Kuwait?
We discussed this matter with Sir Rupert Hay and we
agree with you that if the Americans are allowed to
establish a Consulate in Kuwait (see my letter No.E.9325
to Tehran, which is being copied to you) we will find it
difficult to resist the Iraqi desire to do likev/ise,
particularly as they are a limitrophe country and have now
withdrawn the power of the Political Agent, Kuwait, to issue
visas for Iraq. We also agree that once we deciae to change our
policy in this matter there is little to be gained except
ill-v/ill in stalling indefinitely with the Iraqis.
We have thought of sug 6 estin^ to the Iraqis that they
should appoint in the first instance, only a Trade Agent with
power to issue visas which would be in line with our decision to
permit the Indians and Pakistanis to appoint Trade Agents
at Bahrain, though, of course, ti conflicts with our acceptance,
on conditions of the Americars wish to have a Consul. The
Americans, however, have not yet signified their agreement to
our approaching the Shaikh on the conditions laid down by
us and it may be some time before the matter is settled.
For the moment, therefore, there is nothing which can be said
to the Iraqis. If they speak again, you can only say that the
matter is being considered. The same goes for the Iraqi
request for a Consul at Bahrain. (Your despatch No.153
(852/11/49) of 10th August).
Even if the iunerican proposal goes through, I think the
first step in any case would be for us to ask Hay to sound the
Shaikh of Kuwait unofficially aoout an appointment for the
Iraqis. We believe him to be generally willing to exaltjhis
own authority and seeming independence of us by receiving
representatives of forcing powers, but he may well be less
anxious to welcome the representatives of foreign powers other
than the United States then he may be to welcome an American
representative. . He may also be both sensitive about Iraqi
designs on Kuwait and resentful of the recent decision about
his date'gard,ens, though his appeal is yet to be heard. It
would be politic, therefore, to seek the Shaikh^ views first.
But it will not be possible for Hay to sound the Shaikh about
an appointment for the Iraqis until he can speak about the
Americans when and if they agree to our conditions.
I am sending copies of this letter to Bahrain, Jedaa, and
Tehran.
Yours ever,
SD/fi- B.A.B. BURROWS.
H. Trevelyan, Esq., C.I.E. , O.B. E. ,
BAGDAD.