Page 76 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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(d) Mr. Alexander Sloan, United States Consul-General at Baghdad visited
Kuwait from Iraq travelling overland from Basrah by car on 26th February. He
was the guest of the American community. He called on the Political Agent on
27th February and dined at the Agency. On 2fith he was taken for a motor ear
trip along the coast South of Kuwait for a distance of 30 miles. He left again on
29th February.
(c) On 26th March one Iicrr George Kraz and his wife Freeda Kraz, both
Austrian Citizens referred to in the Sind Police Gazette of 20th March 1931,
arrived disguised as Arabs from Bahrain by motor launch. Their disguise
was easily seen through and both were sent to the Agency by the Ruler
for enquiring into their antecedents. Herr Kraz explained that lie was a Muslim,
a doubtful statement, and desired to go overland to Mecca for the Haj. His Ex­
cellency the Shaikh allowed him to remain 5 days to look round the Town and then
asked him to leave through the Political Agent. Both left for Basrah on 31st
March.
During his visit Herr Kraz was reported by a member of the American Mission
to have spoken bitterly against the British in the Bazaars and conversely to have
lauded up to the skys the Soviet and German Governments. He apj eared to have
little money and begged the Shaikh and others for funds to assist him on his journey.
He spoke Turkish well.
(/) A Rumanian theatrical artist called Leonida Greenberg with his wife and a
lady called Larisa Besronkoya arrived from Basrah on 28th April, without pre­
vious permission having been asked of the Political Agent if they could come. Tbo
latter requested them to return the same day.
Apparently their period of “ Sejour ” in Iraq had expired, and Kuwait
became a convenient city outside the frontier from which to again seek entry into
Iraq. To get rid of them the Political Agent, had no course but to endorse their
passports for Iraq once more.
(g) Shaikh Mohomed al Isa al Khaifa of Bahrain arrived from Basrah on 15th
August and sailed for Bahrain on 16th August.
(h) Seyed Mohomed Khairi ibn Khair Halabi of Syria, Nationalist Editor and
owner of the “ Wafa al Arab ” newspaper of Damascus arrived at Kuwait on 16th
August. He left again for Bahrain on 30th August. He apparently desired to
collect funds for Nationalistic purposes in Syria, but got no “ change ” out of the
Ruler.
(i) A certain Doctor Reasoner, a rather down at heel but extremely clever
American Dentist, who had been carrying on a precarious business in Kuwait for
some 4 years, left Kuwait for Basrah on 3rd November. Certain friends there
had promised him regular work under the Port Directorate if he would transfer his
business there.
At the last moment it was found that he owed the Shaikh a considerable sum
of money, both on account of a personal loan, and for rental due on the house he
had occupied for 4 years.
The Ruler informed him that he could not leave the Town till he liquidated
the debt. This latter came to Rs. 1,110. After considerable negotiation in which
Dr. Reasoner received moral and financial support from the American Mission and
Major Holmes, the Anglo-American Oil Concession hunter, the matter was
compounded, and the Shaikh agreed to let Dr. Reasoner go. The case presented
several awkward features, chief of which was the official request made by\the
American Mission that the Political Agency should take up the cudgels on behalf
of Dr. Reasoner whom they considered was being unjustly treated by the Ruler,
while Amercian prestige and that of a “ white man ” were also at stake.
The Political Agent went to considerable trouble to convince them that
under the Kuwait Order in Council of 1925 Part I paragraph 8, he could not inter­
fere in the case of an American Citizen, as the United States of America had never
asked that the interests of her nationals should be looked after by His Majesty’s
Government. Even though this course was suggested to their Consul in Bagh­
dad in 1921 by the then Political Agent.
Nevertheless the Political Agent did extend his good offices, and unofficially
saw the Ruler at least three times in connection with Dr. Reasoner’s case, and
undoubtedly was mainly instrumental in bringing the matter to a successful close.

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