Abstract: Memorandum, written by Colin George Campbell, 31 December 1900, about Koweit [Kuwait], including a brief historical introduction and detailed information for the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1900. Topics discussed include Mubarak al-Sabah [Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ] having murdered his father (Muḥammad I Al Ṣabāḥ) and claimed his position as Shaikh of Kuwait; the involvement of Kuwaiti subjects in piratical acts; a request by the Shaikh in 1897 for Koweit to be placed under British protection in a similar manner to Bahrein [Bahrain]; Turkish claims to Koweit; the decision in 1899 to obtain an agreement with the Shaikh of Kuwait not to 'cede, lease, mortgage or otherwise alienate or give for occupation any portion of his territories to the Government or subjects of any other Power without previously obtaining the consent of Her Majesty's Government'; Russian interest in Koweit and Turkish movements in relation to it in1899, including attempts to appoint Turkish citizens to posts there; German interest in establishing a railway link to Bagdad [Baghdad] which would include Busrah [Basra] and Koweit; Shaikh Mubarak's relations with Sheikh Abdur Rahman bin Faisal [ʻAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Fayṣal Āl Saʻūd] and Koweiti involvement in the affairs of Nejd [Najd]; and the strengthening of Shaikh Mubarak's position with Turkey and the Porte since the appointment of Mohsin Pasha as Vali at Busreh.The margins of the memorandum contain cross-references to official correspondence with the Government of India and Foreign Office.An appendix to the memorandum, on folio 6, contains:Translation of Arabic bond, signed by Malcolm John Meade, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and Mubarak Al-Sabah, Shaikh of Kuwait, 23 January 1899Translation of Arabic letter, 23 January 1899, from Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm John Meade, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to Sheikh Mubarak-bin-Sabah, Sheikh of Kuwait regarding the signing of the agreement as given in the Arabic bond.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence consists of pencil numbers, enclosed in a circle, located in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio. The sequence begins on the first folio, with number 1, and ends on the last folio, with number 6.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, in southern Iraq. The correspondence concerns the Iraqi Ministry of Justice’s refusal to recognise the Power of Attorney presented to them by the Shaikh of Kuwait’s lawyer in Basra, Jacob Gabriel. It also concerns the following: the Shaikh of Kuwait's ownership of the gardens, the Tapu papers (land deeds) which prove his rights to the date gardens, smuggling,
fellaheenriots at Faw, and tax payments. In the papers, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised their concerns to the British Government that unless the Shaikh accepts the service of judicial documents emanating from the Iraqi Government all cases instituted against him would remain pending.In the volume, British Officials circulate full lists of the Shaikh’s garden properties in Iraq. They also discuss the Iraqi Government’s request for the Shaikh to appear at the Court in Iraq, and how this could compromise his position as an independent ruler.The volume also includes correspondence related to the ‘Ujairawiyeh Estate, which had been purchased by Shaikh Mubarak in 1912, and was registered in the name of his daughter Sharifa. The estate later became a shared property between the heirs. Such shared properties raised questions among British officials regarding the Arab custom of holding property in common.The volume’s core correspondence covers October 1934- April 1935. The earlier start date given to the volume is a result of correspondence by the Political Resident Trenchard Craven William Fowle (f 303), which is dated 30 August 1933. The correspondence is a drawing of a plan showing lands adjacent to Faw depot.The main correspondence in the volume is between the Political Resident, Bushire, the Political Agent, Kuwait, the British Ambassador, Baghdad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iraq, the Ruler of Kuwait and his Basra lawyer Jacob Gabriel.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 311; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Two previous foliation sequences, one circled and one uncircled, have been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence related to the date gardens owned by the Shaikh of Kuwait, Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, in southern Iraq. In particular, the correspondence concerns the court suit raised in Basra Court by members of al-Zuhair family complaining against the Ruler of Kuwait. The suit in question concerns a portion of the Shaikh’s Faddaghiya estate on Shatt al-Arab, and the Bashiya land to which members of al-Zuhair family lays claim to. According to the reports, the Faddaghiya estate was owned by Aisha, wife of Ahmad Pasha Al-Zuhair. Ahmad Pasha sold the estate to Shaikh Mubarak of Kuwait although he did not hold a Power of Attorney from his wife at the time of the sale, in 1914.The Iraqi Government had requested via the British Embassy, Baghdad, for the Shaikh of Kuwait to submit to the Basra Court certain documents related to the case including a copy of Power of Attorney to prove the right of Ahmad Pasha Al-Zuhair to proceed with the selling.The volume includes a sketch map of the Faddaghiya estate with explanatory notes (ff 94-97). It also includes minutes of a meeting which was held at the Foreign Office in London to discuss issues related to the date gardens and the court suits. The correspondence contains reports that the
fellaheenon the Faw estate have started refusing to pay rent and were committing acts of sabotage. The Shaikh in turn argued that the British Government’s procrastination had caused him further troubles. Among the correspondents in the volume are the Political Resident, Bushire, and the Political Agent, Kuwait.The volume’s core correspondence covers the years 1932 and 1933. The earlier start date given to the volume is a result of correspondence between Sir Henry Dobbs, Revenue Commissioner, Basra, and Abdul Aziz al-Salim Al-Badr, Agent of the Shaikh of Kuwait in Basra (ff 23-25), which is dated 14 June 1915. The correspondence includes the details of the Tapu dead registration granted to the Shaikh of Kuwait.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 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 6-203, and ff 139-203; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.