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(iii) The Consul will correspond with the Kuwait authorities only through the
Political Agent except in purely routine matters. Routine matters are
defined as—
(cr) trade enquiries and information;
(b) transmission of general information material;
(c) condolences and congratulations. On these matters the Consul
will correspond with the Shaikh’s Secretary.”(3CU)
His Majesty’s Government agreed that the Consul might have access to the Ruler
on certain occasions provided all such interviews were arranged by the Political
Agent, who would himself be present. The Ruler concurred in the conditions
and in the issue by himself of a letter of authority (Appendix J), a point on which
the Americans had insisted. The Consul arrived in Kuwait on June 28 and was
presented to the Ruler three days later. In his commission his appointment was
stated to be for “ Kuwait and its prescribed district ” and the United States Embassy
in London confirmed that this was meant to include the Neutral Zone.(370) They
stated that their Embassy in Jedda would in due course be obtaining Ibn Saud’s
consent to the Consul’s exercising his functions in the Zone.
165. The appointment did not, as had been expected, lead to demands for
similar representation by other States. A Vice-Consul was in due course added to
the Consuls staff with Her Majesty’s Government’s approval. On one occasion
in 1952 the Consul made direct enquiries from the Kuwait Municipality on the
subject of roads, and on the Ruler’s complaining the Consul apologised to the
Political Agent.(3n) Apart from this the Consulate has strictly observed the
conditions prescribed for it, and its behaviour so far as Her Majesty’s Government
are concerned has up to date been impeccable and its relations with the Political
Agency have been excellent.
166. Although the Americans own a half interest in the Kuwait Oil Company
and the whole of the American Independent Oil Company the number of Americans
employed in Kuwait does not amount to more than about a hundred. A Mission
of the Dutch American Reformed Church of America has done excellent medical
work over many years. United States ships visit Kuwait from time to time and
between 1948 and 1953 a United States Navy Survey Ship carried out a
hydrographic survey of Kuwait waters.

VIII.—Miscellaneous

(a) Jurisdiction
167. The first Kuwait Order in Council came into force on October 1, 1925.(372)
Under it jurisdiction over British subjects and protected persons, the subjects and
protected persons of non-Muslim foreign Governments who had consented to the
exercise of such jurisdiction by His Majesty, and Kuwait subjects or the subjects
of other Muslim Governments registered at the Political Agency as being
regularly employed by British subjects or subjects of non-Muslim foreign
Governments was vested in the Political Agent. The concurrence of the Ruler in
this delegation of jurisdiction was obtained in November 1925 (Appendix K (i)
to (iii)). The Political Agent was instructed that in the event of a national of a
non-Muslim Power committing an offence necessitating proceedings against him,
or of such a person beoming involved in civil proceedings, the matter should at
once be brought to the notice of His Majesty’s Government who, on learning that
such a case had arisen, would take steps to ascertain from the Government of the
person concerned whether they desired that the case should be dealt with under
the Order in Council. Only three cases were tried under this Order in Council,
and in none of them was it necessary to consult a foreign Government about the
exercise of jurisdiction over its subjects. It may be noted that nationals of the
other Gulf Shaikhdoms, although in theory British-protected persons, have in
practice always been treated as subject to the Ruler’s jurisdiction.
168. In 1933 it was decided to issue a new Order in Council embodying a
number of amendments, the most important of which was the omission of any
(3M) F.O. to P.R. Despatch 6 of January 17. 1951 (EA 1904/1 of 1951).
(,ro) (EA 1903/1 of 1952.)
(Jn) Bahrain to F.O. 332/1/52 of August 23. 1952 (EA 1903/6 of 1952).
(37S) Para. 26 at p. 78. P.G. 13.
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