This publication has its origin in the desire to make available the mass of material in the Arabic language from the files of the British Political Agency, Kuwait. The Arabic texts preserved in these files form a rich and interesting source for reading and research. The volume and range of material is extensive, the majority consisting of correspondence that passed between the Ruler and the Political Agency. Although the Agreement between Kuwait and Great Britain, (23 January 1899), gave the British no right to intervene in domestic affairs, many of the letters and reports concern internal matters such as pearling, trade, banking, Islamic and legal affairs and oil negotiations. A larger number, however, deal with tribal disturbances, Wahhabi incursions, the ruling family’s date gardens in Basra, smuggling and other issues involving Kuwait’s external affairs and, in particular relations with neighbours in what are today Iraq and Saudi Arabia.