Page 116 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II_Neat

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f- A!th<?Vgh thc RuIcr corresponded direct with Ibn Saud from time to
lime about thc blockade and thc measures to be taken to end it, he regarded His
Majesty s Government as ultimately responsible for inducing thc Saudis to raise it
and His Majesty s representatives from time to time took up thc matter with thc
oaudi authorities. In 1936 with the Ruler’s concurrence a draft Trade Agreement
was presented to the Saudi Arabian Government but in 1937 thc latter insisted that
«qi\ yoisinage and Extradition Agreements should be executed at thc same time.
J. ms involved much further drafting and discussion and it was not until 1940 that
the terms of all three agreements were settled to the satisfaction of His Majesty’s
Government, the Ruler and the Saudi Arabian Government. On March 5, 1940,
letters were exchanged between thc Political Agent, Kuwait, and Hafiz Wahba, the
Saudi Arabian Minister in London, at Kuwait agreeing that the terms of thc three
agreements should be brought into force in fifteen days’ time, thereby bringing the
Saudi blockade to an cnd.(3a7) At the same time it was agreed that certain
modifications and additions to them were necessary and it was not until April 20,
1942, that thc agreements were finally signed at Jedda. On June 4 the Ruler
conveyed in writing his approval of the agreements and undertook to observe
them.(3'H) Instruments of ratification were exchanged at Jedda on May 1, 1943.(3i1’*)-
145.. The Trade AgrcenientC30) brought into force a manifest system and
mentioned a Saudi Arabian Trade Agent in Kuwait. It has worked satisfactorily
and no objectionable activities on the part of the Trade Agent have come to notice.
There is, no understanding that he should deal with the Kuwait authorities through,
the Political Agent, and it is considered probable that he acts as the channel for
friendly and unofficial messages betvyecn the Ruler and the King of Saudi
Arabia.(3ai) The Bon Voisinage Agreement!332) contains provisions for the
appointment of frontier officers by both parties and their functions, and for the
free movement of tribesmen in search of grazing and provisions (musabalah).
In a schedule details of the procedure to be followed in respect of the return
of looted property and lost animals, the payment of blood money and other
such matters are recorded, and letters were exchanged on the subject of the
tribes which owed allegiance to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait respectively, with a
proviso that if Kuwait claimed any sections of the Saudi tribes, a separate
understanding should be reached on the subject or failing this a Joint Committee
should be appointed to decide, the matter. The Extradition Agreement!333)
covers a number of offences, including smuggling but excluding political
offences, and makes special provision for the Neutral Zone. The agreement is
accompanied by an exchange of letters dealing with offences against the Trade
Agreement. So far as is known the terms of the Extradition Agreement have
never been invoked and nothing has been heard of the frontier officers provided
for in the Bon Voisinage Agreement.
146. The questions of the administration of thc Neutral Zone, the boundaries
between Kuwait, the Neutral Zone and Saudi Arabia and the Saudi claim to certain
islands have been dealt with above (sections. Ill to V) and there is little else that
calls for notice. In 1938 and 1939 Ibn Saud supported the Ruler against the
campaign of vilification from Iraq. In 1944 he asked His Majesty’s Government
to interfere in favour of the political prisoners detained since the disturbances of
1.938 and 1939. His Majesty’s Government refused to interfere, and it is probable
that he wrote personally to the Ruler as the prisoners were shortly afterwards all
released. In 1948 he objected to the grant of an oil concession to the American
Independent Oil Company (paragraph 108 above) without his having becn.consulted.
At the end of 1953 King Saud agreed to lift a prohibition on the export of certain
articles from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait, to allow the passage through his territory
of motor vehicles carrying fruit and vegetables from Syria to Kuwait and to grant-
entry visas, free of charge to Kuwaitis landing at Dhahran provided that they
carried a letter of recommendation from the Ruler..!”*)
147 Ahmad had close personal relations with Ibn Saud whom he regarded as
number of visits were exchanged between them. Abdullah
big brother, and
(”T) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 1841 /40 of April 4. 1940 (E 1504/227/25 of 1940).
(”•) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 190 of May 2. 1943 (E 2539/57/25 of 1943).
r°) P.R.‘to f:J.'C288/14/56 of;May 13; 1950/EA 1905/5 of.I950).
(”J) No. 11 II. T.C.
(«') Kuwait Vo F.O/ Despatch 7; of. January 25.. 1954 (EA 10325/4; of 1954).