Page 146 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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CHAPTER IX.
Administration Rspobt of the Kuwait Political Agency for the year T.9;>2.
I.—Personnel.
(a) Lieutenant Colonel II. R. P. Dickson, CJ.IO., I.A., held charge of (lie Poli­
tical Agency throughout the year.
(b) Assistant Surgeon A. L. Greenway, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., I.M.D., was in
medical charge of the Agency Charitable Dispensary, and performed the duties
of Quarantine Officer throughout the year, except for the period 2nd June to 2nd
October, when Assistant Surgeon It. Easy was in charge, Dr. Greenway having
proceeded on leave to the United Kingdom.
II.—The Ruling Family.
(a) The ltulcr His Excellency Shaikh Sir Ahmcd-al-Jabir-al-Subah, K.O.T.E.,
C.S.I., has mauaged his State during the year under review with ability and
success.
He lias maintained correct and friendly relations with his two powerful
neighbours, the Kingdom of Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudiyah (Hcjaz-Nejd),
lying to the north and south of his territory respectively ; in spite of the dis­
appointing policy of the former in the matter of the Al-Subah date gardens on
the Shatt-al-Arah, and other matters on Die one hand, and the close trade blockade
on the land side, by the forces of His Majesty King Bin Saud, whose avowed object
would still appear to be either to force Kuwait to acknowledge him as suzerain
by the simple process of strangulation or to destroy her economically.
The closeness of the blockade, which during the year was placed under the
control of the notoriously harsh and cruel Governor of Hassa, the Amir Abdulla
ibn Jiloui, and so became perhaps tighter than ever before, coupled with the
failure of the 1932 Pearl Season, for the fourth year in succession, has reduced
Kuwait to such a state of poverty and distress that it has required all the skill
and patience of the Ruler to prevent the hot-headed members of his family from
attempting retaliatory measures in the form of intrigues with the Border Tribes
This was especially the case during Ibn Rifada’s rebellion against Bin Sand in
North Hejnz, when undoubtedly efforts were made by those behind the Tbn Rifada
movement 10 take advantage of the bitterness felt in Kuwait against Bin Saud,
to start surreptitious trouble in the north-east corner of the King’s dominions.
So wisely has the Ruler dealt with the internal situation that his personal
popularity as Ruler still stands high among the stable elements of the Town :
tin’s in spite of the fact that, during the year under review, he has had to adopt that
most unpopular expedient in the eyes of an Arab of cutting down the salaries and
food allowances of the various members of his family (some 200 in number), as
well as make a 30 per cent cut in the wages of his servants, personal guards, and
State forces (fidawiyeh).
(b) Oil the 1st January His Excellency the Shaikh accompanied by some
personal friends and a party of retainers left for Bahrain and the Trucial Coast
on board the S.S. “ Chakla ” (specially chartered). His Excellency the Shaikh
was the guest of the Hon’ble the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. He '
returned on 15th January.
(r) His Excellency ttlic Shaikh’s 3rd son, Mohamed, who was sent to Beyrout,
early in 3930 to be educated returned to Kuwait at the end of June. As he was
making poor progress there, His Excellency the Shaikh decided to bring him
back, and send him to England instead. Negotiations for this purpose are now
in Land.
III.—Relations with: the Shaikh.
The relations between His Majesty’s Political Agent and the Ruler have con­
tinued to be of a most cordial and satisfactory nature, during the year under
review.
The policy of the Political Agent has been and continues to be to interfere
as little as possible in the internal administration of the Town and Slate of
Kuwait, but in matters of Foreign Policy to adopt a course of watchfulness.
This state of affairs, in the opinion of the writer, is as near the ideal as
possible, for tbo Jiulcr is flattered and pleased to think that ho is being allowed