File 2/5 XV 'SHAIKH'S DATE GARDENS'

Title:

File 2/5 XV 'SHAIKH'S DATE GARDENS'

Date:

1943/1947

Description:

Abstract: This file is a continuation from IOR/R/15/5/153. It contains correspondence, memoranda and legal papers regarding lawsuits brought against the Shaikh of Kuwait [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] by the heirs of the former owners of the Al Faddaghiyeh, Al Bashiyah and Al Fao properties, and efforts on behalf of the Shaikh to reclaim the properties or seek compensation for their loss. The majority of the file concerns the Fao estate, discussing: the progress of a number of appeals and counter appeals regarding ownership; dealings with the Fao municipality and the Mudir of Fao regarding their occupation of the gardens; the refusal of the Shaikh's tenants to gather the date crop; the passing of legislation giving the tenants the right to reclaim river land adjacent to the Shaikh's property; and negotiations with the Basra Port Directorate for the lease of land within the Fao property. The papers also discuss: the Shaikh's court appeal seeking return of the purchase money for Bashiyah property, and later attempts to bid for the land at auction; and changes in the Shaikh's legal representation at Basra.The file primarily consists of correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Foreign Office, the India Office, and the Political Agent at Kuwait. It also contains copies of correspondence between the Shaikh of Kuwait (Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ), the Shaikh's son and acting representative in Basra (Shaikh Muḥammad Āl Ṣabāḥ), the Shaikh's secretary (Abdulla Mulla Saleh) and the Shaikh's lawyers (Sulaiman Faidhi, Iskandar Mansur, and Hasan Abdul Rahman), as well as copies of outgoing letters to them.The file contains the following legal documents and case notes (English translations unless otherwise stated):Court of Appeal decision regarding the Bashiyah, f 65.English and Arabic copies of a court document regarding the Fao properties, ff 90-91.Estimates of the present and pre-war values of the Shaikh's land at Bashiyah, ff 120-121.English and Arabic copies of inheritance documents issued by the Sharia Court of Kuwait, plus Power of Attorney documents, ff 124-132, 136-139, 140-142, 152-155, 192-205, and 325-331.An updated précis of the date garden lawsuits and their status at the time, ff 262-264.A précis of proceedings and Government correspondence regarding the date gardens, ff 276-278, and 333.The correspondence is continued under reference IOR/R/15/5/155.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 366; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 15-157; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Language:

English

Type:

Archival file

Type (Narrower):

Other Texts

Type (Broader):

Text

Subject:

Land ownership
Taxation

Geographic region:

Basrah

Rights:

المُلكية العامة

Identifier:

81055/vdc_100000000831.0x000068_ar
81055/vdc_100000000831.0x000068_en
IOR/R/15/5/154
IOR/R/15/5/154

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