Page 694 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

28
CHAPTER V.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE KUWAIT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR
THE YEAR 1940.
I.—THE POLITICAL AGENCY.
Personnel.—(a) Major A. C. Galloway of the Indian Political Service held charge
throughout the year. For the month of August, R. G. Daubcny, Esquire, of the
Indian Political Service, Under Secretary to the Resident, was in charge of current
duties to enable the Political Agent to proceed on recess.
(b) Assitsant Surgeon A. L. Greenway, M.B.E., I.M.D., was in charge of the
Government Dispensary, and performed the duties of the Quarantine Medical
Officer throughout the year.

II.—THE RULING FAMILY.
(a) His Highness Shaikh Sir Ahmed al Jabir As Subah, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., the
Ruler, did not leave Kuwait during the year.
Shaikh Abdulla Salim, C.I.E., stayed a few days at Shaklava in Iraq but soon
returned to Kuwait owing to the lack of amenities in that much vaunted Iraqi
hill-station.
There was no change in the distribution of the State administrative offices held
by the leading members of the Subah family, though salaries were raised during the
year. These rises, paid from the State income and not from the Shaikh’s oil royal­
ties, were intended to placate the rising generation of the Subah family who will,
I surmise, soon cause considerable trouble for Ahmad. His weak attitude towards
them is bound to store up trouble for himself.

III.—THE POLITICAL AGENT’S RELATIONS WITH THE SHAIKH.
The relations between the Shaikh and the Political Agent were the same as
usual. His Highness is cordial but nevertheless, in my opinion, quietly and persis­
tently directs his energies to resisting British influence.
IV.—LOCAL INTERESTS.

(a) Political.—The ouststanding event of the year was the conclusion of Trade,
Bon Voisinage and Extradition Agreements between His Majesty’s Government,
on behalf of the Shaikh of Kuwait and the Government of Saudi Arabia. With
the conclusion of these Agreements a land blockade of Kuwait, which was imposed
some 20 years ago, was raised. A rapid revival of trade followed.
There was no recrudescence of the disturbances of the previous year. The
ring-leaders who had failed to make good their escape continued in prison.
The attitude of the Kuwaitis towards the Allies continued, on the whole, satis­
factory, and the pro-German sentiment displayed in the earlier part of the year had
considerably subsided towards the end.
(b) Trade.—The Kuwait Trade report gives full information on matters of
trade.
(c) Customs.—The customs duty was raised by one-half per cent, in December
to raise revenue for public health services. The State Hospital of which there has
been talk for thirty years has not yet had one brick laid.
(d) Council.—The council met regularly until the beginning of the hot weather.
About this time Shaikh Fahad as Salim who is in charge of the Treasury, paid a
visit to Bahrain during which period it was decided to seize the opportunity to
inspect his accounts. On his return he was confronted at a Council meeting
with certain discrepancies. In the course of his defence he spat at two members
whereupon the Council broke up and did not meet again until mid-December
and then only at the instigation of the Political Authorities.