Iraqi opposition to Kuwait's independence

[Iraq - The Republic of Iraq]. Haqiqat al-Kuwayt [The Truth about Kuwait].

€ 1.500,00

First edition. Set of two rare pamphlets published by the Iraqi government, opposing the independence of Kuwait. The first pamphlet, published in English and Arabic, outlines Kuwait's historical connection to Iraq and analyses its "imperialist relations" with Britain. The second one, in Arabic throughout, prints the minutes of the Political Affairs Committee of the Arab League, which met in Cairo on 20 July 1961 to consider Kuwait's request to join the League.

Kuwait emerged as an independent state in June 1961, after sixty-two years as a British protectorate. With a new constitution, it held its first parliamentary elections in 1963, thereby becoming the first Arab state in the Gulf to establish a parliament. Such political developments, married with growing wealth and modernizations in health, culture and finance, helped to make Kuwait the most prosperous state in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Iraqi government argued that the move toward independence was a continuation of Kuwait's relationship with Britain, albeit under a new guise. Furthermore, they felt that the historical links between Iraq and Kuwait entitled the former to control over the latter and, one suspects, a share of its growing wealth. This position, partly detailed in the pamphlet, led to a point of crisis, with Iraq threatening invasion. To the relief of Kuwait, the Iraqis were eventually deterred by the Arab League's promise of military opposition.

Light exterior wear, interiors clean and bright.

Rare: Of the first volume, OCLC locates five copies solely in institutions in Germany and Poland. Of the second volume, LibraryHub locates one copy in the UK at the British Library; OCLC locates copies in Harvard, the University of Toronto, and the NYU Abu Dhabi.