Page 417 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1009. 7
As elsewhere on the Arab Coast, the pearling season was a profitable
one, and enabled unfortunate sufferers from the hard times of the past two
years to rehabilitate themselves.
The chief items of general interest on the Bahrain record for 1909,
are:—
(i) The Shaikh’s formal request to the British Government that they
will relieve him of jurisdiction over foreigners.
(u) The endeavour of the Turks to annex the Island of Zakhnuniyah
under Bahrain, situated close to the coast some ten miles south
of Ojair, which point we regard as the southern limit of Tur­
kish jurisdiction. Representations were made to the Porte by
His Majesty’s Ambassador, and they assured His Excellency
that “ orders had been issued ” for the withdrawal of the small
military post which had been sent to the Island : but, as usual
in these cases, there was a good deal of discrepancy between
the orders so issued from Constantinople and the manner of
their interpretation by the local Turkish authorities here.
However, in November 1909, the soldiers left of their own
accord and had not returned up to the end of the year.
(Hi) The new Persian regime, having continued to argue the question
of the sovereignty of Bahrain with His Majesty’s Minister,
were informed again by Sir George Barclay that the island and
its inhabitants were considered to be under British protection,
and that His Majesty’s Government would be guided entirely
by their own views of the position, should any action of the
Persian authorities make representations necessary.
(iv) The enhancement of Shaikh Esa’s salute as a personal distinction
from 5 to 11 guns, and the grant of a salute of 3 guns to his
eldest son, which the Government of India were pleased to sanc­
tion, gave great satisfaction to Shaikh Esa.
Here again the successful pearling
Kuwait.
season and the good market prevailing,
made the year a prosperous one.
The record of events in the hinterland calls for no special comment.
The proceedings of the Al Bu Ainain tribe however in migrating from Wakra
and settling at Kasr-as-Sabaih, which Shaikh Mobarak claims to be within
his jurisdiction, is a matter of some little significance; as the tribesmen
appear to have approached the Turkish authorities at Basrah aiso, and may
give the latter an opening for meddling in the locality in question. The
colony will need watching on this account.
The Shaikh’s relations with the Basrah authorities were, on the whole,
satisfactory. At the beginning of the year, the Wali was troubling him in
connection with the registration of his property at Fadaghia, but he came to
an understanding with his adversary for the time being, and representations
on our part were made superfluous.
The Shaikh received two substantial favours from the Government of
India in the shape of the gift of two saluting guns, the enhancem'erit of his
personal salute to 12 guns, and the accord of a salute of 5 guns to his eldest
son, of all of which compliments he was appreciative.
As regards the import of arms, Shaikh Mobarak s attitude has not been
satisfactory, but has improved a good deal since Capta.in Shakespear’s report
was written. There can be no doubt that a regular supply of arms reaches
Kuwait and is sold in the bazaar: on the other hand, these particular arms
do not find their way, at present at all events, to quarters inconvenient to us,
being sent mainly to Arabistan and the coast north of Bushire. It is at any
rate a matter of satisfaction that Shaikh Mobarak has maintained his former
attitude in refusing to allow Goguyer to start business in Kuwait.

P. Z. COX, Lieut.-Colonel,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.