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had not the same personal relations and was, if anything, much more in awe of
Ibn Saud than his predecessor and most anxious not to offend him. The question
of direct correspondence between the Ruler and the King of Saudi Arabia is one
on which His Majesty’s Government appear to have made no final pronouncement.
As the preceding narrative shows such correspondence has in the past been fairly
frequent and in 1939 it was agreed that the Ruler while on a visit to Riyadh could
discuss informally the agreements which were then being negotiated(33ft)
(paragraph 144 above). By 1950, however, the attitude of His Majesty’s
Government had hardened and they expressed the opinion that the Ruler acted
improperly in sending a reply to Ibn Saud’s proposals about the administration
of the Neutral Zone (paragraph 40 above) without consulting them.(33C) They
asked that it should be made clear to the Ruler that as they were responsible for
the conduct of his foreign relations, correspondence with other States relating
thereto should continue to be conducted through them. The Political Resident
called attention to past practice^337) but no further ruling was given.
{d) Persia
148. Persia does not claim Kuwait as Persian territory, but refuses to
recognise both her existence as an independent State and Her Majesty’s Govern­
ment’s special relations with her.!33*) In 1934 the Persian Foreign Minister stated
categorically to Her Majesty’s Minister at Tehran that his Government did not
advance any claim to sovereignty over Kuwait, though when he was asked to
confirm this in writing, he gave an evasive reply.(339) Under instructions issued in
1928 by the Persian Government, Kuwaitis visiting Persia are to be treated as
Persian subjects and supplied with Persian identity certifications or travel
documents. In 1932 it was reported that any Kuwaiti going to a Persian port had
his Kuwait certificate torn up and was fined. Similarly, any Persian visiting Kuwait
had his Persian certificate torn up and was given a Kuwait certificate in which he
was shown as a Persian subject. In 1949 Persian identity certificates were
recognised at Kuwait, but it was reported that most Persians arrived there without
travel documents ana that they were allowed to land and remain if security was
given for them by a merchant of standing in Kuwait.(31°) Kuwait postage stamps
are accepted by the Persian post offices, but the Persian authorities refuse to viser
passports bearing British visas or endorsements for Kuwait.
149. In 1925 the Persian Government proposed to appoint a Persian subject
residing in Kuwait as an honorary agent for the issue of Persian passports.(3U) They
were informed that such an appointment would be contrary to the 1899 agree-
ment(343) and would create an embarrassing precedent. They then asked that British
protection should be extended to Persian nationals in Kuwait. The Ruler, when
consulted, objected to the proposal but the Political Agent was instructed to deal
with each case, where protection was needed, as it arose and that no further
intimation need be made to the Ruler on the subject.!343) There is no case on record
of the Political Agents having extended protection to Persian nationals and it is
doubtful whether such a course of action would ordinarily be possible now.
150. Except for occasional minor incidents little has occurred during the
period under review affecting relations between Kuwait and Persia. There is much
coming and going between the two countries and a certain amount of trade, much
of it illicit on the Persian side. In 1929 the Persians alleged that arms were being
supplied from Kuwait to the Qashqai rebels but the accusation was easily refuted.
In 1932 a request received from the Persian Government for the service of a
judicial document on the Ruler of Kuwait was refused.(344) In the following year two
requests for the service of similar documents on persons resident in Kuwait were
refused “ until the relations between Persia and Kuwait have been regularised.”(313)
In 1932 and 1933 four cases of interference by the Persians with Kuwaiti dhows

(”') Tel. from F.O. to Jedda. 94 of June 9, 1939 (EA 4142/34/25 of 1939).
(”‘) Tel. from F.O. to P.R. 18 of January 11. 1950 (E 14752/1534/91 of 1949).
(”’) Tel. from P.R. to Kuwait. 18 of January 14. 1950 (EA 1532/5 of 1950).
(*’*) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 416 of September 8. 1934 (E 5955/2240/91 of 1934).
(*”) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 253 of May 17. 1934 (E 3680/139/34 of 1934).
(S4°) P.R. to F.O. 248/17/49 of August 29. 1949 (E 10952/1931/91 of 1949).
(34‘) I.O. to F.O. P. 1187/30 of February 17, 1930 (E 880/278/91 of 1930).
(J4J) No. 1 II. T.C.
(34a) I.O. to F.O. P.Z.439 of August 5. 1926 (E 4632/768/91 of 1926).
R f:S: Ut3'1932 ^9,2/86/371 of 1932)-