Sovereignty over Khor Abdullah in light of British Documents 1905-1940
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Abstract
Khor Abdullah has been one of the most internationally disputed issues between Iraq and Kuwait since the 1990s. Due to its political, Geopolitics, economic, and historical significance. This study focuses on determining the ownership and sovereignty over the khor based on British correspondence between residents and political agents in the Arabian Gulf, the Government of India, and the British Foreign Office, along with their affiliated departments, during the period from 1905 to 1940, a timeframe defined by documents from the British archives in London.
The documentary study revealed that sovereignty over Khor Abdullah went through two distinct phases, with World War I (1914-1918) serving as the dividing line between them. Given its influence in the Arabian Gulf, the British government held decisive authority, acting in accordance with its interests and pursuit of regional stability. The issue of the maritime boundary between Iraq and Kuwait remained unresolved and was repeatedly exploited by Britain as a means of exerting pressure on either country whenever it served its strategic objectives.
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References
المصادر
أولاً: الوثائق
- وثائق الارشيف الوطني البريطاني غير المنشورة
- British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, ‘Sketch Map of the Vilayet of Basra’, IOR/L/PS/10/596, f 295, Ordnance Survey Office in 1914.
- F. O., Report (with Maps) on the country adjacent to the Khor Abdullah, and places suitable as Termini of proposed Bagdad Railway, by Captain E. W. S. Mahon, R.E., to Foreign Office , (Secret), File NO. 881/8493, s 1330, 24 July 1905.
- F. O., Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Telegram From Sir B. Newton, Bagdad, British Embassy, To Mr. Baggallay, Registry Number: E 630/630/93, No. (205/2/40), 31st Jan 1940.
- F. O., Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, From Sir B. Newton, Bagdad, British Embassy, Registry Number E 937/630/93, No.72, (205/4/40), 16th February, 1940.
- F.O., Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Telegram From Sir Basil Newton ,Bagdad, en clair, to Foreign Office, Registry Number E 1033/630/63, No. 18 Saving, repeated to Political Resident in Persian Gulf and Political Agent at Koweit, 27th February, 1940.
- F.O., Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Telegram From The Colonel C. G. Prior, CIE.. Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, To O. K. Caroe, Esq., CIE., Secretary to the Government of India in the External Affairs Department, No. P. Z. 1779/40, New Delhi, 7th March, 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Telegram From Mr. Baggallay, 11th March 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Registry Number E 1033/630/93 P.M.C., From Foreign Office, To India Office, 16th March 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Registry Number E 1033/630/63 S.N.1., From Foreign Office Sir Lacy Baggallay, To India Office; the Admiralty; War Office; Air Ministry; Colonial Office; Board of Trade; Ministry of Shipping; Petroleum Department and Office of the War Cabinet, 16th March 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Decypher of Telegram, Iraqis on Khor Abdulla, From Government of India, External Affairs Department, to Secretary of State for India and Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, No. P. Z. 1624/40, Secret, New Delhi, 18th March, 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Registry Number E 1272/630/93, From India Office, No. P.Z. 1624/40, 21st March, 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Registry Number E 1272/630/93, From India Office, No. P.Z. 1624/40, 26th March, 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Decypher of Telegram, From Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to Secretary of State for India, No. P. Z. 1715/40, Secret, Kuwait, 22nd March, 1940.
- F. O. Political Eastern, Iraq, 371/24559, files No. 448, Proposed Port on Khor Abdullah, Telegram From The Under Secretary of State for India, Political Department, S.W.1, To India Office, No. P. Z. 1779/40, London, 19th April, 1940.
- W. O., development- Khor Abdullah port…Iraq, 201/1050, C.R. Flle No.3533, G.H.Q. Middle East, Secret., High Grade Cipher Message, from Lieut., A.E.C., Officer i/c Cables, General H.Q., M.E., Secret, No. 70356, Folio No. 5204, To CENTRAL REGISTRY G.F.Q. MIDDLE EAST, 9/5/1940.
- W.O. development- Khor Abdullah port…Iraq, 201/1050, C.R. Flle No.3533, G.H.Q. Middle East, Secret, from Major-General W. S., MIDEAST, For General Smith Deputy chief General Staff, MILMISS, BAGHDAD, No.10592, this message sent in cipher 13/5/1940.
- W. O., development- Khor Abdullah port…Iraq, 201/1050, C.R. Flle No.3533, G.H.Q. Middle East, Secret., Reference note from G. H. Q., R. N., Most Secret, 15/5/1940.
- W.O., development- Khor Abdullah port…Iraq , C.R. Flle No.3533, G.H.Q. Middle East, Secret. Cipher Message out, From MIDEAST, Major-General W. S., For Deputy chief General Staff, Folio No. 3976, this message sent in cipher, 17/5/1940.
- W.O., development- Khor Abdullah port…Iraq , C.R. Flle No.3533, G.H.Q. Middle East, Secret., message from Major-General G. G. Waterhouse, C. B. M. C., British Advisory Military Mission, Iraq, G. R. M. E., CAIRO, 21 May 1940.
- الوثائق المنشورة
- File 53/6 (D 2) Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs, 1898-1899' [42v] (84/554), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/472, in Qatar Digital Library https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023520802.0x000055
ثانياً: الرسائل الجامعية
ـ عبد الله الحميدي محمد المطيري، الكويت في عهد الشيخ أحمد الجابر الصباح (1921-1950م)، رسالة ماجستير غير منشورة، جامعة بنها، كلية الآداب، 2018.
ثالثًا: الكتب
- الكتب الوثائقية
- C. U. Aitchison, A Collection Of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads, Vol. XI, Publisher: Central Publication Branch Government Of India, Calcutta, 1930.
A- Extract from a Letter from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to His Excellency Sir Mubarak as-Subah, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., Shaikh of Kuwait, containing certain assurances given to him by the British Government, 1914, document No. XLII, 14th Dhi lhijjah 1332 (3rd November 1914).
B- Memorandum from His Excellency the High Commissioner for Iraq to the Political Agent, Kuwait, No. 5405, document No. XLIII, dated the 19th April 1923.
- الكتب العربية
ـ انعام مهدي علي السلمان، حكم الشيخ خزعل في الأحواز 1897/1925، مكتبة دار الكندي، بغداد، 1985.
ـ جعفر الخياط، العراق في سنة 1941 كما ترويها وزارة الحرب البريطانية والمستر ونستن تشرشل في مذكراته، مطابع دار الكشاف، بيروت، 1954.
ـ حافظ وهبه، خمسون عامًا في جزيرة العرب، ط1، دار الافاق العربية، القاهرة، 2001.
ـ سعاد محمد الصباح، مبارك الصباح مؤسس دولة الكويت الحديثة، ط1، دار سعاد الصباح للنشر، بيروت، 2007.
ـ عبد الرزاق الحسني، تاريخ الوزارات العراقية، ج5، مطبعة العرفان، صيدا، 1953.
رابعاً: الموسوعات
ـ خالد عبد المنعم العاني، موسوعة العراق الحديث، م3، ط1، الدار العربية للموسوعات، بغداد، 1977.
ـ عبد الوهاب الكيالي، موسوعة السياسة، ج1، ط2، المؤسسة العربية للدراسات والنشر، بيروت، 1985.
ـ مير بصري، اعلام السياسة في العراق الحديث، ج1، ط1، دار الحكمة، لندن، 2005.
خامساً: البحوث المنشورة
ـ حلا جاسم كاظم؛ مصدق عادل طالب، إشكاليات مفهوم السيادة الوطنية وتأصيلها في ظل دستور جمهورية العراق لسنة 2005، مجلة جامعة الانبار للعلوم القانونية والسياسية، العدد 1، المجلد 15، جامعة الانبار، 2025.
ـ سالار علي خضر الدزيي، منطقة الحياد العراقية السعودية دراسة في الجغرافية التاريخية، مجلة التراث
ـ وجدان كارون فريح، العوامل المؤثرة في النشاط التجاري بمدينة البصرة (1869-1914) "دراسة تاريخية"، مجلة كامبريدج للبحوث العلمية، العدد 8، مركز كامبريدج للبحوث والمؤتمرات، البحرين، 2021.