Page 139 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

THE PRESENT LEGAL POSITION 77
independent States of the Arab League.1 In the case of Kuwait, it is
significant to note that she attended the first conference of Oil Pro­
ducing Countries which held its first meeting at Baghdad in the sum­
mer of 1960, and which established for the first lime the Organisation
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).2 Furthermore, as early
as 1952, the United States established a consulate in Kuwait. The
American consul held ‘an exequatur from H.M. Queen Elizabeth',
as being responsible at the time for the foreign relations of Kuwait.3
It may be interesting, in this connection, to refer to the following
comment of The Times about the evolution of the international
personality of Kuwait during the few years preceding her independence:
It may seem anomalous that Britain should still conduct the Shaikh of
Kuwait’s foreign relations for him, though this arrangement has never
prevented him from playing his own important and enterprising role in the
Arab world. . . . Besides, for all its wealth, a small territory like Kuwait
may not want to be burdened with the full apparatus of foreign missions.4
The question now presents itself whether the Shaikhdoms may
properly be described, in spite of their obligations to the British
Government, as States or Subjects of International Law?
It has been noted in Chapter 7 above that the former protectorates
of Tunisia and Morocco were described as States possessing inter­
national personality.5 However, it should be admitted that, although

1 Kuwait attended the Arab Social Experts Conference, held in Cairo on
10 March 1956, and the Arab Social Studies Conference held in Amman on
25 April 1956. Sec Government of Kuwait, Report of Social Affairs Department
(Arabic report), 1956, pp. 69-70. Also both Kuwait and Qatar attended, as full
partners, the first Arab Oil Conference which opened in Beirut on 16 October 1960.
Bahrain attended the said conference as an observer. Sec Financial Times, 15-17
October 1960; United Press International, 17 October 1960. Both Bahrain and
Qatar have continued to attend Arab Oil Conferences and take part in various
economic and social activities sponsored by the Arab League. The Shaikhdoms
also maintain separate ‘Israeli Boycott Offices’ which report directly to the ‘Arab
Committee of Israel Boycott’ of the Arab League.
2 When the OPEC held its second conference in Venezuela on 21 January 1961,
both Kuwait and Qatar were represented as full members. See The Times, 10, 22
January 1961. And sec the Financial Times, 30 January 1961, where it comments
on the membership of Kuwait and Qatar in OPEC as follows: ‘Joining the (OPEC)
was a major foreign policy act because it created vitally important links with other
States.’
3 Hay, op. cit., p. 151. In January 1961 the United Arab Republic requested the
Ruler of Kuwait for consular representation in Kuwait. See The Times, 16, 27
January 1961.
4 The Times, 27 January 1961. And see the Financial Times, 30 January 1961,
which states: ‘The situation is altered by the announcement that as of January 23
Kuwait took over from Britain control of its foreign relations and is proceeding
directly with training Kuwaitis for the diplomatic service.. . . Kuwait is now fully
independent, although still in treaty relationship with Britain.’
6 Sec above, pp. 65-6.