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85. 'File 2/15 Iraq coup d'etat and political situation in Iraq'
- Description:
- Abstract: This file contains documents and correspondence relating to the takeover of Iraq by British forces following the coup d'état in Iraq during 1941. The papers discuss the possibility of an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and the domestic political situation in Iraq during and immediately after both the coup and the start of the British invasion. This includes ascertaining the political attitudes of notables, influential tribes, and military forces present in Iraq at the time. A variety of documents in the latter half of the file pertain to the British effort at stabilising the Iraqi Government following the British takeover, including discussions of its international alliances and treaty obligations.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 208; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 2-207, and ff 15-207; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
86. 'File 2/2 I. Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to Kuwait-Iraq smuggling. British officials discuss the Iraqi Government’s proposal to the Kuwaiti Government for cooperation to help control smuggling between the two countries. They also discuss the conditions under which permission is given to ship goods between the two countries, the fines that are to be imposed on the boats charged with smuggling, and monitoring the territorial waters, Shat al-Arab in particular.The volume also contains correspondence related to the firing on and seizure of a Kuwaiti jollyboat by a Fao customs launch near Bubiyan Island, and the seizure of three Iraqi ballams (small boats) by the Kuwaiti customs authorities.The volume also contains a confidential report prepared by the Political Agent in Kuwait under the title ‘Kuwait note on the contraband problem of Iraq with her neighbours and in particular how it affects Kuwait’.The main correspondents in the volume are the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency, Bushire, the British Embassy, Baghdad, the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Mutassarif of Basra Liwa, the Hakim of Kuwait as well as Customs departments in Kuwait and Iraq.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 220; 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 present in parallel between ff 4-215; these numbers are also written in pencil, but, where circled, are crossed through.
87. 'File 2/2 II Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains memoranda, confidential papers, personal letters and testimonies related to alleged smuggling of food and goods from Kuwait to Iraq. The correspondence includes two unsuccessful proposals for conferences to be held between Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials to discuss the limits of territorial waters and smuggling from Kuwait.The volume includes tables showing the total imports and exports into and from Kuwait, of sugar, tea, coffee, matches and tobacco which were the principal articles complained of as being smuggled between 1920-1933.Most of the volume relates to complaints made by the Shaikh of Kuwait to the Political Agent, Kuwait, regarding attacks by Iraq Customs Officials. The volume contains testimonies from Kuwaiti subjects, forwarded by the Shaikh, regarding armed cars belonging to the Iraqi customs crossing the Kuwait frontiers and attacking Kuwait nakhudas, locals and Bedouin tribes, as well as reports of Iraqi customs from Fao violating Kuwait’s territorial waters. The volume also contains minutes from meetings in London between British officials in response to the incidents.The main correspondents in the volume are the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency, Bushire, the British Embassy, Baghdad, the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Shaikh of Kuwait, and the Secretary of State for India, London.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 320; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 60-64, and ff 148-315; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
88. 'File 2/2 III Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to Kuwait-Iraq smuggling. The correspondence discusses the following:Operation of Iraq Customs launch in Kuwait territorial waters.The shooting of two Kuwait tribesmen in Kuwait territory by Iraq Preventive Police.Proposing a conference to be held between Iraq and Kuwait.The suggestion to establish joint Iraqi-Kuwait preventive service to operate on land and sea.The suggestion to appoint a British Customs Director at Kuwait.The British Embassy, Baghdad communicated with the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the Shaikh of Kuwait’s complaints against Iraqi customs. The correspondence also has references to complaints and incidents which are discussed in the previous volume in this series– IOR/R/15/5/129 'File 2/2 II Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling'.The volume also includes reports on the number of cases of smuggling within 1934 and 1935, the smuggled goods including sugar, coffee, tea, tobacco and the values of these items. It also includes records of meetings held at the Foreign Office, London, to discuss the question of smuggling, and it includes notes on Syed Hamid Beg al-Naqib, Deputy for Basra in the Iraqi Parliament, and his visit to Kuwait in April 1935.Among the correspondents in the volume are the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency, Bushire, the Shaikh of Kuwait, the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, New Delhi, the Secretary of State for India, London, and the Foreign Office, London.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 267; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 149-262; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
89. 'File 2/2 V Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to Kuwait-Iraq smuggling. British officials suggested a mixed commission representing both the Shaikh of Kuwait and the Iraqi Government, and authorized the investigation all the frontier incidents by land and by sea that had occurred between the two states since April 1933.The Shaikh of Kuwait raised his complaints to the Political Agent, Kuwait, about Iraqi customs attacking Kuwaiti nationals, and about tribesmen accusing them of smuggling. In turn, the Political Agent, Kuwait, shared the Shaikh’s concerns with the Political Resident, Bushire, and other British officials. On the other hand, reports were also sent by the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the British Embassy regarding the Iraqi Government investigating the incidents.The volume also contains correspondence related to meetings held between Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegations in few places in Iraq and Kuwait in order to discuss the incidents issue, as well as records of a meeting held in London to consider establishing frontier committee to investigate the incidents.Among other correspondents in the volume are the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ruler of Kuwait, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, London, and the Secretary of State for India, London.The volume core correspondence covers the period April 1936 to February 1937. The earlier start date given for the volume is a result of correspondence related to the investigations made by the Iraq Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the depositions of Kuwaiti nationals, these are dated December 1935, (ff 138-145).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 257; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-252; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
90. 'File 2/2 VI Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to Kuwait-Iraq smuggling and Iraqi incursions into Kuwaiti waters. The Shaikh of Kuwait raised his complaints to the Political Agent, Kuwait, about Iraqi customs attacking Kuwaiti nationals, firewood collectors and fishermen and their jolly boats. With his letters the Shaikh enclosed statements by some of those who were attacked, as well as tables of the goods seized by the Iraqi police including cigarettes, fish, and camels.Other issues raised in the correspondence are the following:Investigation of the Iraq-Kuwait frontier incidents.Cases that were dealt with and the possible compensation.The export taxes on Iraqi cigarettes.The Iraqi Government agreeing on building two police posts at Kuwait border, one at Zubair and one at Nadjmi.The volume includes records of a meeting held in London to consider measures for dealing with smuggling between Iraq and Kuwait. It also includes records of the regulations of the King of Iraq regarding the issue of smuggling which were published in the Official Gazette of Iraq.The main correspondents in the file are the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency, Bushire, the British Embassy, Baghdad, the Iraq Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Hakim of Kuwait, and the Mutassarif of Basrah Liwa, Basra.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 182; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers; nor does it include the six leading and ending flyleaves.An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-182; these numbers are also written in pencil and are circled, but are crossed through.
91. 'File 2/4 I TAXATION OF SHAIKH’S DATE GARDENS.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Khaz'al al-Ka'bi, in southern Iraq. In particular, the correspondence concerns the Government of Iraq's intention to end the immunity from taxation (on the gardens) that had been granted to the former ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah by the British Government in return for their military support against the Ottoman Empire in the First World War. The volume contains letters (ff 16-20), dated November 1914, from the British Resident and Consulate-General, Bushire, Persian Gulf, to both shaikhs in respect to this issue. The volume also contains correspondence between British officials discussing the British Government's obligations to Kuwait and how it should react to the Government of Iraq's plans.The Iraq Government had considered and continues to consider that the exemption from taxation is illegal. This issue was discussed in an extract of an article that appeared in Al-Iraqnewspaper and published in 1927, in which the writer gives the exact amount (12.000 Turkish gold liras per year, or 100.000 in the past 7 years) Iraq was losing annually as a result of the exemption from taxes granted to the two shaikhs.The British officials had direct correspondence with the Council of Ministers, Iraq. They conveyed the British Government’s approval to the Government of Iraq to open up direct negotiations with the Shaikhs of Kuwait and Mohammerah regarding their revenue exemptions. Correspondence between the High Commissioner, Baghdad, and the Government of Iraq were made as early as 1924 in regard to the issue. The correspondence between the British officials includes articles of the Anglo-Iraq Treaties as well as reports prepared by the Law Officer of the Crown, Downing Street (ff 116-123).The volume also contains correspondence between Sayid Hamid Bey Al-Naqib, Basra Deputy to the Ruler of Kuwait, and Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir conveying to him the procedures taking place in Iraq regarding his date gardens. Al-Naqib also paid visits to the Shaikh on behalf of the Government of Iraq. The volume also includes statements of the properties of both Shaikhs between the years 1914-1928.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 318; 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 present in parallel between ff 4-313; these numbers are also written in pencil but, where circled, are crossed through.
92. 'File 2/4 II TAXATION of SHAIKH’S DATE GARDENS.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Khaz'al al-Ka'bi, in southern Iraq. In particular, the correspondence concerns the Government of Iraq's intention to end the immunity from taxation (on the gardens) that had been granted to the former ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah by the British Government in return for their military support against the Ottoman Empire in the First World War.The correspondence is mainly between British officials discussing the possible solutions to the gardens taxation issue. Among the suggested solutions was the selling of the property. British officials report that the Shaikh of Kuwait is entirely flexible in regards to the selling of certain estates but not the ones in Al-Faw. But they also suggested that it would be rather useless for the Iraq Government to attempt to purchase the gardens as they belong to more than a hundred relatives of the Shaikh who depend on the produce for their maintenance.The volume includes statements of an estimated value of the Shaikh of Kuwait’s estates on Shatt al-Arab. It also contains economic reports on the proposed new basis of taxation on agricultural produce in Iraq, and copies of the Government of Iraq’s new laws for the collection of consumption ( Istihlak) tax and for the collection of land rent and water rent (ff 79-101). The correspondence also includes records of meetings held in London in regard to the question of the taxations as well as the new system of land revenue collections in Iraq.The main correspondence is between the British Resident, Bushire, the Political Agent, Kuwait, the High Commissioner, Baghdad, and the Colonial Office, Downing Street, London.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 222; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. One of these additional sequences has been crossed out.
93. 'File 2/4 III TAXATION OF SHAIKH’S DATE GARDENS.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Khaz'al al-Ka'bi, in southern Iraq. A particular taxation system called Istihlak(consumption) tax has been imposed by the Iraqi Government on the produce of the gardens. British Officials discuss payment of export duty on garden produce from the Shaikh of Kuwait’s gardens in Iraq, and the allegations made by the Shaikh of Kuwait against the customs authorities at Faw.The British Ambassador in Baghdad reports that because of the enforcement of the new tax law, the Iraqi Government is no longer able to make exempt from taxes the Shaikh‘s gardens' produce that has been exported from Iraq for the personal use of the Shaikh.The volume includes a copy of minutes of a conference on the Shaikh’s date gardens held in Baghdad and minutes of an interdepartmental meeting held in London in regards to the gardens issue.The Political Agent, Kuwait, asks the Shaikh of Kuwait to provide full and detailed statements showing all payments and losses resulting from the imposition of Istihlak tax by the Iraqi Government. The Shaikh in turn provides six statements (ff 194-221):Statement I. Showing the amount levied as Istihlaktax from merchants purchasing and exporting dates in 1932.Statement II. Showing the amount levied as Istihlaktax from merchants purchasing and exporting dates in 1933.Statement III. Showing the amount levied from the Shaikh as Istihlaktax and under the heading 'Customs duties' on articles exported for the Shaikh’s private consumption.Statement IV. Showing the quantities of dates which the Shaikh was obliged to surrender from his own share to the fellaheen(peasants) working in his gardens under the Istihlaktax.Statement V. Showing the losses sustained by the Shaikh as a result of the disobedience of the fellaheendue to the introduction of the Istihlaktax.Statement VI. Showing the grand total of the above lists.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 227; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are present in parallel between ff 6-222; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
94. 'File 2/4 IV TAXATION of SHAIKH’S DATE GARDENS.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, and the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Khaz'al al-Ka'bi, in southern Iraq. The correspondence is mainly about the taxation imposed on the gardens by the Iraqi Government.British officials discuss statements of claims which cover the years 1932 and 1933, and which were submitted by the Shaikh of Kuwait and by Mirza Muhammad, Agent in Iraq to Shaikh Khaz'al, in respect of the losses both shaikhs suffered because of the imposition of the taxation system called Istihlak(consumption) tax. The shaikhs claim that the Iraqi Government has imposed the Istihlaktax system despite the fact that the gardens were exempted from taxations for the years 1932-1933.The volume contains statements on taxation paid on the Shaikh of Kuwait’s estates in Iraq for the years 1934-1937. These statements are in Arabic and English and they were distributed among the Political Agency, Kuwait, and the Residency, Bushire. The volume also contains a report (ff 81-90) of the administration and management of the properties of the Ruler of Kuwait in the years 1933-1934 sent by the Shaikh’s general agent, Jacob Gabriel, to the Political Agent, Kuwait.The volume also contains correspondence between British officials discussing the question of compensation for the loss of income from the date gardens in Iraq belonging to the late Shaikh Khaz‘al, and the British Government’s decision to treat his heirs with the same level of respect.The main correspondence is between the Political Resident, Bushire, the Political Agent, Kuwait, British Ambassador, Baghdad, the India Office, London, the Foreign Office, London and the Ruler of Kuwait.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 271; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 150-266; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
95. 'File 22/23 II Kuwait Conference 1924'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the 1923-24 Kuwait Conference to arbitrate the Najd-Transjordan and Najd-Hijaz boundaries. The main topics discussed include the following:the Kuwait Conference: adjournment, 1924;further negotiations.The discussion in the volume relates to the minutes of the sessions (3rd to 12th) and the exhortations of the President of the conference, Stuart George Knox, to the delegates not to take hardened negotiating positions. Topics discussed in the correspondence also include: Ibn Sa'ud's health, flags and badges and raising of armed forces. An index to the volume is given in folio 269.The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Secretary of State for Colonies, London; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Stuart George Knox; the High Commissioner, Baghdad; the High Commissioner, Jerusalem; the Political Agent, Kuwait; Political Agent, Bahrain.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 272; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-269, and ff 163-261; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
96. ‘File 16/25 Iraq Government Gazette from 7th January, 1945 to’
- Description:
- Abstract: Copies of the weekly ‘Iraq Government Gazette, published in Baghdad by the Directorate General of Propaganda of the Ministry of Interior, Government of Iraq. The copies included in the file cover the periods 7 January 1945 to 1 April 1945, and 2 March 1947 to 11 May 1947.The Gazettes include:copies of royal iradas (decrees) and Government notifications, regulations and proclamations, issued by the Ministries of Defence, Justice, Communication and Works, Finance, Education, Social Affairs, Economics, Supply;Iraq Currency Board statements of coins and notes in circulation;advertisements (or more accurately, announcements for the registration) of trademarks;monthly abstracts of receipts and expenditure for the state.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 253; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: The file contains numerous printed pagination sequences. There are two main sequences, the first beginning at 1 (f 2) and terminating with 178 (f 102), and interrupted by several shorter pagination sequences. The second main sequences begins at 101 (f 109) and terminates at 243 (f 252). This sequence contains some anomalies (e.g. 130, 130A, 130B) and is also interrupted by a series of shorter pagination sequences.