IOR/R/15/5/170

This file relates to several cases of Kuwaiti sailing boats being seized or detained by the Persian authorities. The file consists mostly of correspondence between the Political Agent, Kuwait, and various British diplomatic officials. Most of the correspondence concerns the circumstances of the seizures and the nationalities of the crew members.

One particular case relates to a Kuwaiti dhow that was destined for Fao [Al Fāw] with a cargo of sugar and groceries, and was reportedly seized in the Shatt al Arab by Persian customs. The correspondence regarding this incident, which took place on 6 December 1932, is concerned with confirming the nationalities of the dhow's crew members and whether or not the dhow was seized in Persian or Iraqi waters. Another case involves the abduction of two Persian customs guards, who were taken by force to Kuwait on a Persian dhow carrying contraband sugar.

The principal correspondents in the file are the following:

• Political Agent, Kuwait;
• Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire;
• Secretary to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire;
• British Minister, Tehran;
• British Consul, Mohammerah [Khorramshahr];
• British Vice-Consul, Mohammerah;
• British Consul for Khuzistan, Ahwaz;
• HM Ambassador, Baghdad;
• Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;
• British Legation, Tehran;
• Ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ].

The file includes a circular letter, distributed by the Political Agent, Kuwait, to the Political Resident and to the other Political Agents in the Gulf, which requests certain details (such as date, place, name and nationality of vessel) in all reports regarding seizures of dhows, in order to assist the Political Resident in his communications with the Persian Government.