Page 128 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

115
latter took it over as agents of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department, who
themselves assumed control of it in March 1942. As a result ot the troubles in
Iraq the carriage of mails by land between Kuwait and Basra ceased and the
land-line broke down. The former service was restored in March 1942, the Indian
postal authorities accepting responsibility for the carriage of mails as far as Zubair.
The land-line was recognised as being the property of the Iraqi Government but
the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department took over responsibility for its
maintenance as far as the Kuwait-Iraq frontier and in May 1942 the Iraqi
Government agreed to maintain the section of the line within their territory. They
wished to conclude a formal agreement with the Government of India to cover
this arrangement!140) and some correspondence on this subject ensued but it appears
that no agreement was ever executed. There was much correspondence with the
Iraqi Government about their assets in the Kuwait Post Office.!'41)

198. In 1939 the Government of India and the Ruler agreed to the despatch
of mails to and from Riyadh via Kuwait!4”) but the arrangement broke down
because the Iraqi postal authorities refused to co-operate.
199. On the transfer of power in India in August 1947 the Pakistan
Government assumed responsibility for the administration of the Post Office until
April 1, 1948, when it was taken over by the General Post Office and British stamps
were introduced surcharged with 4* Kuwait" and rupee values.
200. The General Post Office refused to take over the land-line to Basra and
abandoned the carriage of mails by land between Kuwait and Basra. The latter
step led to delays in the mails and many complaints, and in 1949 these, combined
with the inadequacy of the premises which the General Post Office had inherited,
formed the subject of a question in the House of Commons.!141) Efforts made to
obtain new premises proved unsuccessful and were eventually suspended owing
to a proposal to make provision for a new building in the town-planning scheme.
A site was selected and plans were made but construction was held up because
the Kuwaitis wanted something more elaborate. Early in 1953 temporary
accommodation was arranged for the Post Office in a Nissen hut and later in
the year a British Postmaster was appointed.
201. When the Ruler visited Iraq in the spring of 1952 his staff reached an
informal agreement with the Iraqi authorities that postal charges between the
two countries would be at inland rates and that the carriage of mails by land
between them would be restored, and the Ruler asked Her Majesty’s Government
to enter into a formal agreement with the Iraqi Government on his behalf
accordingly!1”) (paragraph 123 above). It was subsequently decided that no formal
agreement was necessary and that the arrangements proposed should be based
on informal correspondence between the General Post Office and the Iraqi Post
Office. A minute was initialled accordingly by representatives of the two Post
Offices on March 5, 1953!'”) (Appendix P). A contract for the daily carriage of
mails by land between Kuwait and Basra was arranged by the Iraqi authorities
with effect from July 1, 1953.
202. The Ruler has not yet asked for stamps to be used at Kuwait bearing
his head, and it is reported to be unlikely that he will do so,(,4C) nor have there been
any signs of the Kuwaitis wishing to take over their own postal administration.
In March 1953 the Director of Public Security at Kuwait wrote to the Postmaster
asking him to submit all mail to and from Israel for censorship.!1”) The Postmaster
complied for a few days and the Political Agent then told the Director of Public
Security that if it was desired to exercise such censorship an official request should
be made to Her Majesty’s Government accordingly through him. The Director
of Public Security approached the Political Agent on the subject two months later
but was told that his request could not be complied with.
!440) Tel. from Bagdad to G. of I. 153 of May 13. 1952
(4M) Bagdad to F.O. 18/12/49 of August 29. 1949 (W 4845/17/801 of 1949).
(44J) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 161 of November 27. 1939 (E 7727/2929/25 of 1939).
!444) G.P.O. to F.O. 70145/46 of June 13. 1949 (W 3426/6/804 of 1949).
!444) P.R. to F.O. Despatch 30 of April 15. 1952 (EA 10393/15 of 1952).
(44#) F.O. to P.R. EA 1445/1 of June 15. 1953.
(44i) P.R. to F.O. 1445/26/52 of Dccember8, 1952 (EA 1443/14 of 1952).
(44T) P.R. to F.O. 1445/6/53 of April 1. 1953 (EA 1451/1 of 1953).