Abstract: The file is concerned with the introduction of the
Kuwait Order in Council(1925) and the subsequent issue of supporting King‘s Regulations by the Persian Gulf Political Resident:
The Indian Pilgrim Ships Regulation(1926) and
Indian Succession Regulation(1927). It therefore contains drafts proposals and correspondence between British officials concerning proposed revisions, and the extent to which it should be based on the Orders in Council for Bahrain and Muscat.The file also contains correspondence debating whether a separate Order in Council for Kuwait is required, and if so how urgent this requirement is. This debate is undertaken in the context of proposals for a single Order in Council for the entire Persian Gulf, and the possibility that Kuwait may come under the authority of Mesopotamia as part of the post-war settlement. The extent that Britain is able to assume authority over non-British and non-Muslim subjects (e.g. Americans and Europeans) is also discussed within the file.The main correspondents are as follows: the Kuwait Political Agent (Daniel McCollum and James Carmichael More); the Persian Gulf Political Resident (Arthur Trevor and Francis Beville Prideaux); the High Commissioner for Iraq (Sir Percy Cox); the Foreign Department of the Government of India; and officials of the Colonial Office, the India Office, and the Foreign Office.The Arabic content in the file consists of an exchange (see folios 113-127) between the Kuwait Political Agent and the Shaikh of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Subah [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ]. This correspondence is dated 24 October and 3 November 1925; it concerns the publication of the
Kuwait Order in Counciland queries from the Shaikh as to the extent of British authority over foreigners; it includes English translations.Draft copies of the
Kuwait Order in Councilcan be found on folios 83-92, while copies of the published version can be found on folios 96-102 and 139-52. A draft of the
The Indian Pilgrim Ships Regulationmay be found on folios 158-59, and the final version can be found on folio 163. A copy of the final
Indian Succession Regulationcan be found on folio 187.A wax seal — possibly a Foreign Office seal — is affixed to folio 136.Physical description: Condition: some folios have been damaged at the edges, and in some cases this has resulted in a loss of text, particularly the Arabic content on folios 115-19. The overall legibility of the file is not affected.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 197; 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 sporadically between ff 12-196 as some numbers have previously been rubbed out; 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.
Abstract: The file is concerned with the introduction of a new Order in Council to clarify the extent of British jurisdiction over foreigners in Kuwait, prompted by ongoing oil negotiations between Kuwait and the United States. The primary British concern being the removal of the requirement that Britain must obtain permission from foreign governments before assuming jurisdiction over their nationals. The file therefore includes discussion between British officials over the changes they desire to make to the
Kuwait Order in Council(1925). There is also some debate over how best to hide the nature of the amendments from other powers, and to what (if any) extent a request from the Iraq Government — asking the British Government to represent Iraqi subjects aboard — affects the situation at Kuwait.The main correspondents are as follows: the Kuwait Political Agent (Harold Richard Patrick Dickson and Ralph Watts); the Persian Gulf Political Resident (Trenchard Craven William Fowle and Percy Gordon Loch); the Foreign Department of the Government of India; the Secretary of State for India; and officials of the India Office and the Foreign Office.The Arabic language content consists of an exchange (see folios 164-187) between the Kuwait Political Agent and the Shaikh of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ]. The subject matter is the Shaikh's formal acceptance of the new Order in Council. The correspondence is dated between 10 August to 3 October 1934, it includes English translations, and a copy of the proposed amendments in Arabic (see folios 167-173). A copy of the Shaikh's acceptance of the original Order in Council dated 3 November 1925 is also included.Draft (and annotated) copies of the proposed replacement Order in Council can be found on folios 63-77 and 124-139. A comprehensive table of proposed alterations as of 15 December 1933 (folios 89-100), along with extracts from the
Ethiopian Order in Council(1931) – folios 101-8 – can also be found within. As can notes on a meeting between the Shaikh of Kuwait and Trenchard Fowle on 18 July 1934 (see folios 155-57).The file also includes a draft copy of
The Foreign Jurisdiction (Probate) Order in Council, 1934designed to replace the 1908 Order in Council on folios 200-08. The reasons for the introduction of a new Order in Council is explained, and notes outlining the court judgement which prompted it can be found on folios 211-17. The case in question is Case Number 62 of 1931 between ‘Crown Prosecutor Vs Clement Dwek & Other [Gabriel Shama]’ heard by the full Egyptian Court.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 225; 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 175-224 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.
Abstract: The file is primarily concerned with the issue of King's Regulations to mandate specific penalties for breaches of air navigation regulations issued under the Bahrain, Kuwait, and Muscat Orders in Councils. The file therefore contains exchanges between British officials on the sort of penalties that should be enforced. Another related subject is the extent that the subjects of the Gulf states — in special treaty relations with Britain — are considered to be British Protected Persons at courts in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Muscat respectively; the answer to this question is summarised as part of an office notice on folio 98. Also discussed is the extent of the Kuwait Political Agent's authority to solemnise Christian marriages in Kuwait (see folios 101-8) under the Order in Council.The main correspondents in the file are as follows: the Kuwait Political Agent (Harold Richard Dickson and Gerald Simpson de Gaury); the Persian Gulf Political Resident (Trenchard Craven William Fowle); the Foreign Department of the Government of India; and officials of the India Office and the Foreign Office.The Arabic language content consists of a few brief letters exchanged between the Kuwait Political Resident and either the Shaikh of Kuwait or the Deputy Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] and Shaikh `Abdulla as-Salim as-Sabah respectively. It concerns the transmission of copies of new regulations and notifications of when they will come into force.A copy of the
Kuwait Air Navigation Regulation(1936) can be found on folio 85, while a draft copy titled
Breach of Air Navigation Regulationdated 1935 can be found on folios 46-47; a list of regulations issued under the Kuwait Order in Council can be found on folio 90. A draft of the equivalent Muscat regulations can be found on folio 68.The creation date range reflects the inclusion of enclosures of an earlier date than their respective covering letters. The main run of correspondence commences from 29 April 1935.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 113; 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 4-111; 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.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence respecting questions arising from the implementation of the Kuwait Order in Council; the main correspondents are the Kuwait Political Agent (Gordon Noel Jackson and Herbert George Jakins) and the Persian Gulf Political Resident (Sir William Rupert Hay). The sort of questions raised include the extent of the powers of the State Police, the desirability of additional King's Regulations, and the appeals procedure for criminal cases heard at the Agency Court.The Arabic language content consists of a limited amount of correspondence — with English translation — between the Political Agent, officials of the State Police, and the Shaikh of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmed al Jabir as-Subah [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ]. An introduction to criminal law as applied to Kuwait can be found on folios 31-35.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 64; 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.
Abstract: Annual Reports of the Political Agent, Kuwait to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf on the working of
The Kuwait Order in Council, 1925(later
The Kuwait Order in Council, 1935). The Reports cover the period 1 October 1925 (when the Order came into force) to 31 December 1925, and the years 1926-1947 inclusive. The information in the Reports comes under the headings of civil cases, criminal cases, and registration of British subjects and British protected persons.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation system in use runs from the front cover to the back cover, and appears written in pencil, enclosed in a circle, in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: f.1 is followed by ff.2A, 2B.
Abstract: The papers consist of a signed copy of a notice of
King's Regulations made under Article 83 of the Koweit Order in Council, 1935, Number 1 of 1947('The Koweit Passport Regulation, 1947') dated 25 August 1947, with covering correspondence between the Secretary of State for India and the Political Resident, Persian Gulf, dated August 1947.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation system in use runs from the front cover to the back cover. The sequence appears written in pencil, enclosed in a circle, in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. A second foliation sequence also appears, again written in pencil, but not enclosed in a circle, in the same area of each folio, numbered 10-12 (ff.2-4).
Abstract: The volume includes papers relating to the implications of the assumption by the British Government of jurisdiction over foreigners in Kuwait, especially in view of the possibility of the influx of large numbers of non-Muslim foreigners (particularly Americans) to work in the Kuwaiti oil industry, June 1932 - March 1933; and papers relating to the discussion and drafting of the
Kuwait Order in Council, 1935(His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1935), March 1933 - July 1935, which was designed to clarify the question of British jurisdiction over non-Muslim foreigners in Kuwait, including papers recording discussions of the matter between British officials and the Ruler of Kuwait [Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah], July 1934, which resulted in the Sheikh's acquiescing in the terms of the revised Order in Council.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation system in use commences at the front cover of the volume and continues through to the back cover. The sequence appears written in pencil, circled, in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: f.1 is followed by ff. 1A, 1B, 1C. A second numbering system also appears, starting at 1 on f.2 and continuing to 259 on f.257. This sequence is again written in pencil, but not circled, and appears in the top right hand corner of every page that bears text.
Abstract: Papers relating to the composition, drafting and publication of
The Kuwait Order in Council,
1925(His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1925). The volume includes papers relating to initial objections and subsequent agreement on the part of Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Subah [Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah], the ruler of Kuwait, to the exercise by the representative of the British Government of jurisdiction over the subjects and protected persons of all non-Muslim foreign governments in Kuwait, including a letter of agreement from the Sheikh written in Arabic, November - December 1925; Rules of Court relating to fees, October 1926; papers relating to the registration of British subjects in Kuwait, November 1925 - December 1926; and papers relating to the regularisation of the position of American missionaries in Kuwait, so that, if the need arose, they would be entitled to British protection, February - December 1928.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation system in use commences on the title page and continues to the last folio that bears any text (seven folios from the end of the volume). The sequence appears written in pencil, enclosed in a circle, in the top right hand recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: folio 1 is followed by folios 1A, 1B and 1C. Folio 186 needs to be folded out in order to be read. A second sequence also appears, again written in pencil in the top right hand corner of most of the folios, but not enclosed within a circle. This appears to start at [3] on folio 4 and continues to 287 on folio 254. This sequence marks all pages bearing text.
Abstract: Short annual reports on the workings of the Kuwait Order-in-Council 1925 and 1935 for the years 1930-1947. The reports contain information on the civil and criminal cases tried and the numbers of British subjects and British protected persons registered during each year.The reports were sent by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to the Government of India, External Affairs Department, from where they were forwarded to the Political Department (External Department from 1942) of the India Office (Commonwealth Relations Office in 1948).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 43; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Correspondence relating to the revision of the five Orders in Council in the Persian Gulf: Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and The Trucial States. The revision was a result of Indian Independence and the transfer of power in the Gulf from the Government of India to HM Government of the United Kingdom. The papers consist of interdepartmental discussion over the amendments to the five orders in council, principally between officials at the Commonwealth Relations Office, Foreign Office, Colonial Office, and the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf. Copies of the finalised orders are contained in the file, as follows:Folios 14-25: The Bahrein Order in Council, 1949Folios 26-38: The Kuwait Order in Council, 1949Folios 39-52: The Muscat Order in Council, 1949Folios 53-65: The Qatar Order in Council, 1949Folios 66-78: The Trucial States Order in Council, 1949Also included in the file is a letter, dated 15 December 1948, from Edward Evans & Co., Consulting Engineers and Chartered Patent Agents, enquiring about patent in protection in Bahrain (folio 84).Folios 2-10 are internal office notes.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 191; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Correspondence (copies, drafts, and originals), memoranda, and notes concerning the drafting and issuing of The Kuwait Order in Council, 1935. The papers deal with the discussion of the need for a new order in council because of the growth of the oil industry and the likely increase of foreigners in the country, the wording of the new document, and the effort to obtain the consent of the ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmed [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ].The correspondence is mostly inter-departmental in nature, exchanged between officials at the Foreign Office, India Office, Government of India (Foreign and Political Department), Colonial Office, and Board of Trade (Companies Department), but the file also includes communications from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Political Agent in Kuwait, and Shaikh Ahmed of Kuwait.Included in the file:Extracts from The Ethiopia Order in Council, 1931, used as reference (folios 165-71)A certified copy of the new Kuwait Order in Council, 1935 (folios 35-50)Correspondence concerning the passing of the Kuwait Passport Regulation, 1947 (folios 3-11).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 264; 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 189-193; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: Correspondence relating to the need for and issuing of 'The Special Police Officers regulation, 1947', under the articles of The Kuwait Order in Council, 1935. The regulation gave the Political Agent in Kuwait the power to appoint special police officers to deal with incidents involving those subject to the jurisdiction of the Order in Council. It was largely a response to an influx of American labour employed by the oil companies.The correspondence is between officials at the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Commonwealth Relations Office, and Foreign Office. A copy of the regulation is on folio 4.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 16; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.