Abstract: A memorandum of the events and correspondence relating to the Turkish construction of a fort at Fao on the Shat-el-Arab. The memorandum reproduces a number of representations made by the British Government both directly to the Turkish Porte and through the Persian Government, objecting to the construction of the fort on the grounds that it was said to contravene a Turco-Persian agreement of 1847. By June 1897 the fort is said to have fallen into decay and to be without guns, but the memorandum concludes that the British must resort to other means if construction of the fort is revived. The memorandum is written by Edmund Neel, Political and Secret Department, India Office, and provides a map at folio 19.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at folio 18 and terminates at folio 26, as it is part of a larger volume; 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 one set is circled and crossed through, the other set is not circled.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence in the form of letters, notes, pedigrees, news extracts and telegrams. The correspondence is mainly related to the ruling family in Kuwait. Reports were sent between the Political Agency, Kuwait and the Political Residency, Bushire regarding the following: political and social news in Kuwait; events concerning the al-Subah family (death, marriage or illness); news of Shaikh Mubarak’s coalition with Shaikh Khaz‘al against a number of tribes in the region; and reports on incidents taking place at Mohammerah, as well as news of the status of a number of Islands, such as Warba, which were claimed by the Shaikh of Kuwait.The file contains extracts from the Bahrain and Kuwait News, Residency reports about Shaikh Mubarak’s dispute with his pearl towashes (pearlers or pearl merchants), and an article (folios 219-224) on Shaikh Ahmad’s visit to London in 1919. It also contains a number of pedigrees of the al-Subah family.The file also includes correspondence related to the number of gun salutes due to chiefs in the Persian Gulf.The main correspondence is between the Political Agency, Kuwait, the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Bushire, the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department, and the British Consul at Mohammerah.Due to the random arrangement of the papers in the file, the earliest paper (dated Nov 1904) is found at f 144, and the latest (dated Oct 1922) is found at f 135.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 230; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-227; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.
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.
Abstract: This volume contains letters, reports and memoranda concerning the lighting and buoyage of the Shatt al-Arab. Correspondence discusses the poor state of the buoys and need for repainting; a re-survey of the Shatt al-Arab in order the prevent the Germans from gaining influence. Also discussed is the need to establish which British maintained-buoys are in Turkish or Persian waters and the dispatch of a British naval force to the area where British buoys had been laid.Correspondents include: Viceroy of India; Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department; Director, Royal Indian Marine, and the Vali of Basra.The volume is part 2 of 2. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part of the year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.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 327; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.