IOR/R/15/1/499

This file contains correspondence between British officials regarding date gardens in southern Iraq owned by the rulers of Kuwait and Mohammerah. In particular, the correspondence concerns the Government of Iraq's decision to end the immunity from taxation (on the gardens) that had been granted by the British Government to the former ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Mubārak Āl Ṣabāḥ and the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Khaz‘al bin Jābir al-Ka‘bī in return for their military support against the Ottoman Empire in World War 1.

The file contains details of a case in the court of Basra brought against Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, the ruler of Kuwait, by Abdulla Al Zuhair/Az-Zuhair [‘Abdullāh al-Zuhayr] including a copy of the judgement of the court - that went against Shaikh Aḥmad. Details regarding the subsequent appeal process against the court's decision are also discussed in the file including details concerning a disagreement about the wording (in Arabic) of a legal document. Gerald Simpson DeGaury, the British Political Agent in Kuwait consulted John Van Ess, member of the Arabian Mission and a well-known Arabist for his opinion in this matter.

The file contains copies of correspondence between Shaikh Aḥmad and his lawyer in Basra, Abdul Jalil Partu as well as correspondence between British officials and the Iraqi government. It also includes discussions concerning the final financial settlement the British government intended to offer Shaikh Ahmad in compensation for losses caused since 1932 (and future losses).

The file closes with reports that Shaikh Ahmad's estates in Fao (The Al Faw Peninsula) and Faddaghiya have been seized - with force - by the Iraqi authorities and his lawyer, Abdul Kalil Partu has been conscripted.