IOR/L/PS/12/3894A

The file concerns the circumstances surrounding the recognition by the Ruler of Kuwait [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] of an elected Legislative Council (Majlis) in June 1938; and the subsequent administration of the state.

The papers include correspondence and reports from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the Political Agent, Kuwait; Kuwait intelligence summaries; translated extracts of reports in the Arabic language press; correspondence from other British Government bodies; and India Office minutes concerning developments in Kuwait, and the attitude of the British Government.

The papers cover: reports of agitation against the Shaikh of Kuwait in early 1938; reports on the events in the Iraqi press; suggestions by British officials that the idea of a Council should be revived (e.g. folio 293); the Shaikh's agreement to the proposal, and a list of the Council's powers (folios 261-262); disagreement between the Shaikh and the Council over the Shaikh's Secretary; proposals for the appointment of a British Adviser to assist the Shaikh (e.g. folios 137v and 52); discussion of the position of the large Shiah minority in Kuwait; a list of improvements introduced by the Council since its formation (folios 132-134); the dissolution of the Council by the Shaikh in December 1938; reports of meetings between the British and the Shaikh of Kuwait, including a list of the Shaikh's grievances against British officials, November 1939 (folios 56-59); and further reports on the attitude of the Shaikh, and political developments in Kuwait, 1940-44.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.