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Essay
Kuwait
Independence
When Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah came to power in Kuwait on
May 17,1896, a new phase in the history of Kuwait began. This phase is
characterized by international interest in its territory, the inauguration of
railway projects, such as Berlin-Baghdad railway, and coal stations.
From the beginning, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah realized
the threat approaching from the Ottoman Empire, the greatest Islamic government
at that time, so he took a decisive step to protect his country from direct or
indirect Ottoman intervention.
In February 1897, he asked to meet Colonel Meade, the
British Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf to ask for British protection to
prevent the dominance by the Ottoman Empire over his country.
Though the position of Kuwait was important to British interests
and this importance had been known since 1775, Great Britain did not desire to
protect Kuwait because of the required military and financial commitments, not
to mention its inclination not to disturb its relations with the Ottoman
Empire.
However, in 1898 many elements incited Britain to
reconsider its policy towards Kuwait. Such as the Ottoman military activities
near Basra, and the Russian and German plans that were threatening British
interests in the region of the Arabian Gulf. Thus, on the basis of a decision
from Lord Curzon, the British viceroy in India, British Political Resident Mead
concluded a protectorate agreement with the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Mubarak
Al-Sabah on January 23, 1899, which defined Kuwait as:
"An independent Country Under British
Protection"
Britain promised to protect Sheikh Mubarak and his
heirs, and in turn the latter agreed to conclude no treaties with other powers,
to admit no foreign agents and to cede no part of Kuwait's territory without
British consent.
This agreement limited the rights of Kuwait to deal
conclusively with its lands without British approval. However, the agreement
did not give Britain the right to intervene in the internal affairs of Kuwait.
In November 1914, Britain recognized Kuwait as an
independent emirate that enjoyed British protection.
Since 1934, Kuwaiti-British relations went beyond the
Arab domain, They were influenced by other greater international influence due
to the competition of American companies in drilling for oil in Kuwait and
other emirates of the Arabian Gulf.
On the internal scene, Kuwait witnessed advances both
related to the rule and the local administration. In 1921, the State
Consultative Council was formed by appointment. The second national regular
school was established and called Al-Ahmadiya School. It was given the name of
the ruler of Kuwait at that time, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The first
national regular school had been inaugurated in December 1911. It was called
Al-Mubarakiya School after the name of the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh
Mubarak Al-Sabah. The municipality was founded in 1930.
The members of the city council were elected in 1932, when Kuwait witnessed the
first election in its history.
Life was difficult in this period. This was due to the
fact that the traditional economy of Kuwait, like any other country or emirate
in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, was closely based on the sea.
Diving for pearls, fishing, shipbuilding and nets as well as other activities
related to the desert, such as herding were the professions prevailing at that
time. Kuwaiti society showed its sympathy for the cases of the Arab Nation,
with the Palestinian case at the top. In 1936, Kuwait witnessed a donation
campaign carried out by the Kuwaiti people for Palestine.
In December 1934, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the
ruler of Kuwait at that time, signed an agreement for oil drilling with the
Kuwait Oil Company (Anglo-American Company). In 1936-1938, the primary drilling
operations proved that Kuwaiti lands were rich in oil, a matter that
dramatically increased the importance of the country.
Concerning the government, in June 1938, Kuwait
witnessed the election of the first legislative council that was held from July
to December 1938.
In June 1946 the first shipment of Kuwaiti oil was
exported. In the late forties (1949) a construction movement started in Kuwait
with the building of some public utilities, a new hospital and roads.
Simultaneously with this economic, cultural and
population development, Kuwait proceeded towards progress and independence
since the beginning of the fifties. The economic, intellectual and cultural
movement flourished in Kuwait and the number of the literate people and the
schools increased. In addition, more educational missions were sent to the
universities all over the world.
In this period, Kuwaiti society had to face many
internal and external challenges as Kuwait evolved from a poor country to a
rich one enjoying great financial potentiality. At many different levels, oil
production was a turning point for Kuwait, a matter which intensified British
interest in Kuwait, as its international importance increased.
At the beginning of the fifties, Kuwait witnessed
development and reformation in the local administration. The High Executive
Committee was formed in 1954; then the Supreme Council and the Organizational
Authority in 1956; in addition to governmental local councils such as the
Education Councill, City Council and Health Council.
Kuwait was heading for independence. National political awareness was increasing. The activities of Kuwaiti youth increased and they started to criticize the administrative conditions.
At that time, the ruler of Kuwait was Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who had been the chairman of the first parliament in Kuwait
in 1938. He welcomed constructive criticism and was keen to achieve fully
considered steps on the way to independence and constitutional government.
In 1959 Kuwait took steps to enact laws and establish
systems such as the Naturalization Law in 1959, the Kuwaiti Currency Law in
1960, the Passports Law and the Organization of Government Departments. These
were all steps along the way to full independence which Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah had resolved to see to the end. In fact, Kuwait was not apart
from interaction and participation in many Arab social and cultural activities
as well as those of the Arab League.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah realized that the protectorate agreement was no longer appropriate after the changes that had taken place in the conditions of Kuwait. At that time, Kuwait was heading for independence and had already taken large strides on its way. The Kuwaiti people no longer accepted the restrictions imposed by the protectorate agreement, though they realized very well that this protectorate had many advantages in this period. Yet, circumstances had changed, which necessitated cancellation of the agreement. Thus, the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, expressed
His desire to replace the old agreement with a new
friendship agreement that went along with the development and changes that had
taken place.
The British government accepted the Kuwaiti demand. Diplomatic notes were exchanged between Sir William Luce, the British Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf at that time, and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait, on June 19, 1961. According to this agreement the following terms were carried out:
The agreement of January 23, 1899 was terminated as
being inconsistent with the independence and sovereignty of Kuwait.
Relations between the two countries should continue to
be governed by a spirit of close friendship.
When appropriate the two governments would consult
together on matters which concerned them both.
Nothing in these conclusions would affect the readiness
of Her Majesty's Government to assist the Government of Kuwait if the latter
requested such assistance.
In so doing, Kuwait declared its
independence on June 19, 1961.
A draft constitution was approved on November 11, 1961,
outlining Kuwait's system of governance as a
"fully independent
Arab State with a democratic style of government, where sovereignty rests with
the nation, which is the source of power".
A few months after independence, the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem, gave instructions for the formation of a popular committee to draft a modern constitution for independent Kuwait.
Two months after the formation of the committee, public
elections were held to elect members for the first national assembly in the
country. Government departments were reorganized so as to be able to implement
the overall development movement and its plans. Most of the cabinet members
were chosen from among the elected members of the national assembly which
comprised fifty members.
According to the constitution, the national assembly
has absolute power to draw the legislative policies and control over the
executive authority. A few weeks later Kuwait joined the Arab League.
Following the Declaration of Independence, a newly-born state would normally seek to join the international community as a first step towards the recognition of its independence. This aspiration can be materialized by becoming a member of the United Nations.
On 6 July 1961, Kuwait applied formally for membership
in the United Nations. Also on that day, the United Kingdom submitted a draft
resolution by which the Security Council would call upon all States to respect
the independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait and urge that all concerned
work for peace and tranquility in the area.
Assembly act favorably on Kuwait's request. The
Assembly, at its fourth special session, endorsed the recommendation by
acclamation on 14 May 1963, thereby admitting Kuwait as the Organization's
111th Member State.
Kuwait also became an important player in the
international family of nations, and with its wealth it became a major foreign
aid donor. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is active throughout
the Arab world and beyond. Kuwait independently supports projects in non-Arab,
non-Muslim nations as well, and has given as much as eight per cent of its
annual gross national product in foreign aid.
The country was instrumental in the formation of the
Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981, through which
the states of the Gulf maintain regional security,
stability, and progress.
Abdullah’s reign was so central to the evolution of modern Kuwait that when he died in 1965, the date on which he had ascended the throne in 1950 (February 25) was designated National Day. Previously, Kuwaitis had celebrated their national holiday on the date of the dissolution of the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement.
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