IOR/R/15/5/132

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).