Page 154 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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dale garden, purchased by Shaikh Mubarak of Kuwait in 1008 from the lady’s
ancestor, Shaiiyah, wife of Ali Pasha bin Qassim al Zulmir.
The Bnshivah garden is part of the main “ Faddaghiych ” estate purchased
separately in i5)08 by Shaikh Mubarak from Aisha, wife of Ahmed Paslm al
Zuliair, and there were indications at the end of the year that the descendants
of the original vendor were about to file suits on similar grounds for recovery
of the latter from the Shaikh of Kuwait. The matter is engaging the attention
of 11 is Majesty's Government.
(tl) In the midle of the year the Customs Department of the Iraq Govern­
ment insisted that the Kuwait boats which conveyed drinking water from the
Shatt-cl-Arab to Kuwait should report at the Iraq Customs post at Fao and
leave only after receipt of permission to depart. On representation of the delay
and inconvenience resulting from this regulation 1 lie Iraq Government offered
to waive it provided the Shaikh of Kuwait would personally guarantee that the
water boats did not engage in smuggling.
(c) The Shaikh of Kuwait visited Baghdad on 21st August on a private
visit to His Majesty King Fcisal. The Political Agent accompanied him us
far as Basrah. The Shaikh was well received by llis Majesty and by all officials
with whom ho came in contact and the visit may be said to have been successful
as far as it went. On his departure the Shaikh was invested with the Order
of the Rafidain 1st Class.
IX.—Relations with Persia.
These have not changed in any way from previous years.
The Persian Central Government continues to refuse to recognize Kuwait
and Kuwait reciprocates by having as little to do with her awkward neighbour
as possible.
Unfortunately the passport question continues to provide the irritant from
which “ an incident ” is always possible. Any Kuwaiti going direct to
Mohammerah or other Persian port has his Kuwait certificate of Identity torn
up by the local Persian authorities and is fined, on the excuse that the Persian
Government docs not recognize Kuwait. Similarly any Persian visiting Kuwait
from tl Persian port brings along the.1* Ilm-o-Khaba.r or yellow piece of paper,
permitting the traveller to proceed from the Persian Port of so and so to the
Persian Port of Kuwait. On his arrival this paper is confiscated and he is given
a Kuwait Certificate of Identity on which the traveller is sliown as a Persian
subject on a visit to Kuwait.
(a) During the year the Persian Government has made two efforts to got
its court ‘ summons 1 served on persons in Kuwait. These, under orders from
the Political Resident, have been refused.
(b) The advent of Persian men-of-war in the Persian Gulf has caused some
hard thinking to be done by the people of Kuwait. The Persians, they say,
are quite capable of committing a folish act of aggression against any Arab
State without thought of the consequences. They are, on the other hand, not
over-confident that Ilis Majesty’s Government will * see them through ’ if such
incident happened.

X.—Oil interests.
The year 1932 opened with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, enter­
ing the field in opposition to the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, as re­
presented by Major Frank Holmes.
Early in February the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, got permission
from the Shaikh to send down two geologists, a Mr. Cox and Mr. Tate, to make
a superficial surface survey of Kuwait territory.
They were followed at the end of February by Mr. Shaw, Head Geologist
at tl Fields ”, who made an aerial survey of the Principality.
By permission of the Shaikh, Mr. Shaw also started a shallow surface boring
at Mudaira on the north side of the bay and followed it up with a similar
shallow bore at Burgan, 32 miles south of Kuwait. Mr. Cox was in ebargo
of these operations which continued well into April.