Page 147 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

61
full vein to “ nm his own show ” in internal matters', and is wise enough to appre-
eiuie that the Protecting Power should have a say in his dealings with his
neighbours. indeed he goes fartlier and shows anxiety that his foreign policy
sliould be in the main guided by the Political Agent as representing His Majesty’s
Government, lor the obvious reason that he knows that he would have no chance
against the astuto politicians who guide the destinies of Iraq, Persia and Saudiyah
who surround him.
This freedom from interference in his intornal affairs, apart from the mutual
confidence it breeds, enables the Ruler successfully to combat the suggestions so
often put forward by onfi-English elements in the State that the definite policy of
His Majesty’s Government is gradually to absorb the various Arab States round
Arabia and especially those in the Persian Gulf and put them under direct British
control. A rather stupid assertion to the Western mind, considering the past
history of the English in the Persian Gulf, but nevertheless one which finds con­
siderable credence in some quarters. Of course we have also the equally danger­
ous form of anti-British propaganda with 11s which preaches that Ilis Majesty’s
Government intend to desert Kuwait and leave her to her own devices on the
first opportunity.
IV.—Local Interests.
(a) Customs.—(i) A full report on the imports and exports for the year will
• be found in the Kuwait Trade Report, a non-confidcntial publication.
(ti) The Director of Customs, Yusuf bin Yassin al Yacub continues to do
satisfactory work and after 21 years trial retains the full confidence of the Ruler.
I
(Hi) During the year under review several important improvements have
been oiiected 111 the'internal administration of the Customs Department. These
were mostly connected with the more efficient working of the office and with cer­
tain economy measures which the Ruler desired to see carried out.
(io) The port ‘‘ Lighter ” service has continued to work well and the
arrangement introduced last year whereby no boats go out to steamers until the
latter have east anchor has earned the praise of masters of ships. Lighters now
all sail out together under the control of a single person who gives the signal for
sails to be hoisted and the lighters to work. The new system has successfully
done away with the fight for position alongside ships -which used to be such a
feature of the poll of Kuwait. Captains of ships have shown their appreciation
of the efforts made to control boats by making a point of coming right into the
harbour and anchoiing off the Political Agency.
(v) Customs receipts continue to show a steady decline and this will con­
tinue so long as Bin Saud’s Trade Blockade is allowed to continue.
(t>i) During the year a certain amount of contraband traffic has existed with
Persia and Ncjd where prices have ruled high ; this has tended, somewhat, to
raise the Customs receipts for 1932 but only slightly.
Very little contraband, on the other hand, hag been carried across the Iraq
border, as far as one can see, because of the efficient system of frontier car
patrols which Iraq has provided and because low. prices in Iraq offer less induce­
ment to contraband runners than those ruling in Nejd and Persia.
(b) Municipality.—(z) The improvements in the cleanliness and sanitation
of the Town which were such a remarkable feature of 1932 have been maintained,
and Kuwait to-dnv is probably the cleanest town in the Persian Gulf not except­
ing Basra ; certainly it is the healthiest.
His Excellency the Shaikh continues to show the greatest interest in the
Municipality and municipal improvements generally and ably supports tho very
worthy Municipal Secretary, Sulniman al Adsani, a man of energy and “ push ”
not usually seen among Arabs.
(U) The electrification of Kuwait Town, foreshadowed in this Agency’s last
Administration Report as certain for the autumn of 1932, unfortunately failed
to materialize owing to flic bankruptcy of the Baghdad firm which had received
tho contract. Another Baghdad firm, however, stepped into the breach and tho
end of the year saw the erection, nil over the town of electric “ standards ” to
carry the wiring, etc. It is anticipated that the Spring of 1933 will see Kuwait’s
first’*'4 power ” supply functioning.
(iii) Tho Political Agent still continues active in his propaganda for muni­
cipal improvements, and tho results achieved have been little short of marvellous,
Lcn38FD