Page 126 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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(e) Arms
192. In 1900 the Ruler gave an undertaking(m) to prohibit the traffic of arms
in Kuwait territory and issued a proclamation accordingly, together with a
proclamation granting British and Persian warships the right to search Kuwaiti
vessels for arms and ammunition (Appendix N (i) and (ii)). In the Historical
Summary of Events for 1907 to 1928 it was reported that Ahmad, since his accession,
had actively co-operated with His Majesty’s Government in the suppression
of the arms traffic.C33) In 1929 the Persians complained of arms smuggling
from Kuwait but their allegations were refuted (paragraph 150 above). The Iraqi
complaints about smuggling from Kuwait between 1930 and 1940 (paragraph 119
above) included allegations about the large-scale smuggling of arms and exhaustive
enquiries were made into the matter between 1937 and 1939. The Political Resident
reported that there was no traffic in arms from Kuwait to Iraq, that there appeared
to be a brisk trade in arms from Saudi Arabia to Iraq, and that this trade did
not pass through KuwaiU433) It was conceded that an occasional rifle might be
purchased by Iraqi tribesmen in Kuwait territory, but there was no general market
for arms in Kuwait town as the sale of rifles there was prohibited and no nomad
could bring a rifle into the town without a written permit, which was only given
when the rifle was in need of repair.^3') In view of this report it was agreed that
further enquiries need not be made until the Iraqi Government produced detailed
evidence in support of their allegations.!433)
193. In 1941 and 1942 reports were received from the Persian Government
and other sources that Qashqai and other tribesmen were purchasing arms and
ammunition from Kuwait.(43*) These reports appear to have been well-founded.
A Qashqai emissary sent for the purchase of arms was arrested in Kuwait and
the Persian Prime Minister asked that his thanks should be conveyed to the British
authorities for their action.(,3T) A small consignment of arms purchased on the
Trucial Coast was also seized at Kuwait. The Ruler informed the Political Agent
that he had taken strict measures against any possible smuggling of arms into Persia
or Iraq and that all arms and ammunition in the possession of Kuwaitis had been
registered and licences issued for them.C3")
194. In 1951 the Political Resident reported that a large number of shot-guns
were being imported into Kuwait, some of them probably without No Objection
Certificates (Chapter 1, paragraph 42). He feared that some of these might be
smuggled into Iraq or Persia for subversive purposes.(43V) His Majesty’s
Ambassador at Bagdad reported that members of the Iraqi Government complained
from time to time that the measures taken in Kuwait to prevent the smuggling of
arms into Iraq appeared to be inadequate.(4<0) An approach was made to the Ruler,
who denied that shot-guns were being smuggled into Iraq and Persia and said that
they were only being exported openly to Saudi Arabia.C*) Abdullah al Mubarak,
the Director of Public Security, stated that shot-guns could only be bought in
Kuwait by persons holding a permit from his department or the Political Agent, that
retailers were required to keep exact records of their stocks and that sales were
checked from time to time. The issue of permits to Iraqis and Persians was
forbidden. Snap checks amongst the nomads were carried out from time to time
and only one case of the re-sale of a shot-gun to an Iraqi had come to notice. Any
persons wishing to import shot-guns were still applying to the Political Agency for
No Objection Certificates. In these circumstances it was considered that no further
action was necessary.
(/) Banks
195. In 1936 both the Eastern Bank and the Ottoman Bank were considering
the opening of a branch in Kuwait. The choice between the two was left to the
Ruler and he eventually decided to negotiate with the Eastern Bank. They
(4JI) No. 2 II, T.C.
(4”) Para. 15 at p. 154. P.G. 13.
(433) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 5537/38 of August 17. 1938 (E 4879/75/91 of 1938).
(434) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 1602/39 of March 17. 1939 (E 2063/66/91 of 1939).
f4,s) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 1808/30 of March 24. 1939 (E 2254/66/91 of 1939).
(434) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 2097/42 of May 1. 1942 (E 2755/1607/65 of 1942).
(43T) Tel. from Tehran to P.R. of April 19. 1942 (E 2838/1607/55 of 1942).
(434) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 1129/42 of March 9. 1942 (E 1607/1607/65 of 1942).
(43i) Despatch from P.R. to F.O. 83 of June 20. 1951 (EA 1192/6 of 1951).
(44°) Despatch from Bagdad to F.O. 119 of July 9. 1951 (EA 1192/7 of 1951).
(44!) P.R. to F.O. Despatch 18 of March 1. 1952 (EA 1195/1 of 1952).
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