Page 95 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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REVIEW.
Obit nan/.—The <len 111 of Sir Hugh Biscoc on board H. M. S. “ Bideford M
neni lien jam yn the 19th July deprived those who served under him and were
associated with hull, of a personal friend, and the Persian Gulf of a Political
Resident, who worked unceasingly towards the advancement of its varied
interests.
Arab side.—On the Arab side the most important features of the year have
boon the establishment of the Civil Air Route, the growth of Oil Interests, and
widespread economic depression.
Aviation.—As regards the Air Route, for the establishment of which Sir
Hugh Biscoe had laboured so strenuously, and so successfully, an agreement for
1 he establishment of an Air Port was concluded with the Shaikh of Shargah on
the 22nd July. The necessary air facilities had previously been obtained at
Bahrain and at Gwadur—an enclave in British Baluchistan belonging to the
Sultan of Muscat.
Royal Air Force Flying Boats continued to patrol the coast during the year,
and occasional flights of land machines were also made.
The Air Route besides being the Civil Route to India, is also the strategical
one. In fact, the Persian Gulf is now “ The Suez Canal of the Air ”.
Oil Interests.—In Kuwait rival interests—British and American—repre­
sented by the Anglo-Pcrsian Oil Company, Limited, and the Eastern and General
Syndicate, Limited, respectively, have been striving to secure an oil concession
from the Shaikh. Neither had succeeded by, the end of the year.
In Bahrain the Bahrain Petroleum Company continued to drill actively,
and before the close of the year had definitely struck oil.
In Qatar the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, secured in August the
sole and exclusive right for a period of two years to carry out geological explora­
tion in the -Shaikh’s territory.
Kuwait.—Besides the question of the oil concession already alluded to, Bin
Sand’s Blockade, which permitted no trade to cross the frontier of Sa’udi Arabia,
either into, or from Kuwait territory, was the chief matter of interest. At the
close of I he year in spite of various efforts to have the blockade relaxed it con­
tinued unabated.
Various avenues were explored with a view to solving the problem of the
Shaikh’s date gardens in ’Iraq, in connection with which His Majesty’s Govern­
ment had in 1914 promised the Ruler perpetual immunity from taxation in
return for aid against the Turkish forces, but which the ’Iraq Government had
now commenced to tax. A further complication arose by certain claimants
bringing suits, one of which was successful, in the ’Iraq Courts challenging the
Shaikh’s rights to certain of his gardens. In addition to immunity from taxation
His Majesty’s Government had likewise guaranteed the Ruler possession of
his property. No solution to the date garden problem had been found by the
end of the year.
Bahrain.—Besides the development, of the Air Route and of Oil Interests
a feature of the year was the threatened loss of the important transit trade of
Bahrain.
Firstly.—The Sa’udi Government is endeavouVing to construct a new port
at Ras Taiiura where shipment of goods can be made direct both by steamer and
dhow.
Secondly.—In 1920 the Bahrain Government granted a concession to Bin
Saud hv which goods intended for Nejd, transhipped at Bahrain, paid only a
small transit dutv of two per cent. In addition the further concession was
granted that goods transhipped from steamer to dhow in Bahrain waters would
be exempt from the payment of any duty whatever. No advantage, however,
was, until lately, taken of the latter concession. Now, however, the ou udi
Government have shown signs of taking advantage of it.
The question of reaching an amicable and mutually satisfactory agreement
between the Bahrain and Sa’udi Governments on this matter was under consi­
deration at the end of the year.
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