IOR/L/PS/10/50/2

The papers concern the proposal that vessels from Koweit [Kuwait] should adopt a distinctive flag, and the likely reaction this would bring from the Government of Turkey [the Ottoman Empire].

The principal correspondents are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); the Political Agent, Kuwait (Captain Stuart George Knox); the British Ambassador at Constantinople (Sir Nicholas Roderick O'Conor); and senior officials of Government of India.

The papers cover: correspondence concerning the question of the protection that the British Government should give to subjects of Kuwait in Persian territory, June-December 1904 (folios 220-246); a report that the Ambassador at Constantinople saw no objection to the adoption by the Shaikh of Kuwait [Mubārak bin Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] of a distinctive flag for Kuwait vessels, while retaining his existing flag for use in Kuwait, February-March 1905 (folios 217-219); correspondence concerning the proposed use by the Shaikh of Kuwait of the Turkish flag with the addition of the word 'Koweit' written across it in Arabic letters (including colour drawings of the proposed flag, folios 199-203), and specimen shipping certificate, July 1905 - July 1906 (folios 190-216); and correspondence concerning the Shaikh of Kuwait's concerns over the likely consequences of his adoption of the new flag, particularly his fears of 'oppressive measures' from Turkish officials at Basrah [Basra] and other Turkish ports, August 1906 - March 1907 (folios 176-188).

The Arabic language content of the papers is confined to Arabic wording on the specimen shipping certificate and drawings of the proposed Kuwait flag, between folios 192 and 201.

The date range gives the covering dates of all the documents; the date range of the Secret Department minute papers given on the subject divider on folio 171 is 1905-07.