Page 145 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

I

FOB THE YEAH 1013. r
rfho history of Bahrain during the past year contains little of interest, and
Bahrein. to that extent Bahrain may bo considered
“ fortunate”. The usual troubles onncct-
^ ffith tho landing of mcrcbrndise^prcvailod, but some headway against the

fy/Liab subjects towards reform, has been made and wo may be on the eve
Jf better things.
Shaikh Isa, it is satisfactory to note, is younger than ever and appears to'
thrive od the protests of modern haste and civilisation.
The mainland, on the contrary, cannot complain of being dull and in
Persian Gulf politics perhaps the most important event of the year and ono
tfhicli may be expected to have far-reaching effects, has beon the occupation of
.j flasa, in early May, by tho Amir Abdul Aziz bin Saud. Little resistance
*asoffered by tho small Turkish garrison or local Ottoman authorities, who all
left Bahrain eventually on the 1st Juno.
If. is too early yet to prophesy what the eventual outcome of this hold
ffloYO of the Amir may bc; but it is hard to soc how the Porte will be able to
recover the territory thus rudely torn from its authority and one may at least
be permitted to hope that this comparatively fruitful province, rich in possibili­
ties, will not, in the future, remain so entirely closed to all foreign enterprise,
:nd commerce, as it lias been during the last fifty years of its history under
Turkish domination.
An interesting inter view between the Amir and tho Political Agents,
Bahrain and Kuwait, representing the President, took place in December, aa
the outcome of the appearance of Bin Saud as a ruler on the shores of the
Persian Gulf. His friendly demeanour and anxiety to meet British sugges­
tions produced a most favourable impression.
Tho death of Shaikh Jasim bin Muhammad ath Thani of Katar, in July,
nd tho peacoful succession of his second sou Abdullah receive notice in Major
Trevor’s report.
His Majesty’s Government have decided that it is inexpedient to promul­
gate and enforce the Bahrain Order in
Ths Bahrain Order in Council.
Council localiy, till such time as tho
inglo-Turkish Convention of July 29th has beoa ratified and passed out of the
duds of tho general publ ic.
The same hopeful tone of steady progress that has been noticed in previous
years pervades the Kuwait report again
KawwL this year and shows the benefit of the rule
of one strong man in these Arab principalities if he can only be found.
The serious illness of Shaikh Mubarak in the early part of the year was a
Srave anxiety. The well-known longevity of Arab Shaikhs in tho ^ Persian
Gulf encourages one to hope that such a public calamity as the death of this
farsighted and politic ruler may yet for many years bo deferred.
Bis life’s work, however, may be said to be crowned by the signature of
te Anglo-Turkish Convention which, as the Political Agont well remarks,
t^ularises the status of Kuwait.
The usual proofs of Shaikh Mubarak’s enlightened policy were forthcom-
n? this year in his reception of tho Commission of Oil experts headed by Rear
Admiral Sir Edmund Slade, K.C.I.E., K C.V.O.
It is satisfactory to relate that the friendship botween the b wo riverain
kab Shaikhs on the Shatfc-nl-Arab continues as firm as ever.
In November of 1912, Shaikh Sir Mubarak-us-Subah asked the help of
e Governinout in a scheme for the provision
Kuwait Water 8uPP 7. 0f a supply of sweet water to Kuwait, a
^fier of urgont local importance. Two alternatives presented themselves :—
(1) Tho establishment of a condenser.
(2) An attempt to tap some artesian source of supply.
In April of tho present year, a report on tho lat'er project was submitted
I Air, Pasooc of tho Qoological Survey of India, who was strongly in favour