"ولايات الجزيرة العربية السبعة المستقلة [اليمن، عسير، الحجاز، نجد، الكويت، جبل شمر، الجوف]" [ظ‎‎٥] (٦٨٠/١٠)

r I
(i) Although natural harbour is probably best in Gulf, it is undeveloped, and
embarkation and disembarkation from steamers involve considerable difficulty
at low tide.
(?) Present sea communication, which is by slow Gulf mail calling weekly on
journey to Basrah, but only fortnightly on journey from Basrah, is unsatisfactory.
The unpunctuality of this service is the cause of endless complaint.
{k) Situation at extreme northern limit of Resident's charge makes headquarters
unnecessarily far from India and from Muscat and the Trucial Coast, which
requires more of the Resident's personal attention than it has received in the
past.
(I) Lack of security owing to liability to raids from desert.
(m) Absence of wireless and ease with which land line can be cut by raiders.
Of these defects the following can be remedied : —
(6) by building suitable Residency on suitable site which is available ;
(d) by coming to an understanding with Bin Saud. This would probably be
facilitated by transfer of Residency to Kuwait as this should kill Bin Sand's
hope of forcing Shaikh to submit to absorption by Najd State;
(e) by making tennis courts and playing fields for staff and clerks who would
accompany Resident;
if) Government would presumably supply Resident and his staff with these
necessities in tlie climate of the Gulf ;
(g) Government might consider question of condensing plant;
(?') building of a Residency pier would meet this drawback ;
(j) arrangements could probably be made for fast mail to call weekly. Owing to
proximity of Basrah, this, though great convenience which would make move
popular with inhabitants, is not such a vital necessity as it would be in the
case of Bahrain ;
(l) although raids have been conducted up to walls of Kuwait no attempt has been
made to attack the town. I he 1 Residency would be safer than the Sabzabad
Residency in time of tribal trouble.
Shaikh of Kuwait, who looks upon himself as bone between the two clogs Iraq and
Bin Sand, would welcome location of Residency in his territory as he would consider
anticipates move
it as Government guarantee to preserve his independence. He
would settle his quarrel with Bin Saud and bring increased trade.
^ 0 P ll ^ 0ri the greatest objection to Kuwait is its isolation at one extremitv of
e Gull and the consequent difficulty of keeping adequate touch with Oman Close
liaison with Consular authorities in Khuzistan would be possible, but the move will
decrease toucn with the Persian coast south of Bushire.
p- J- B arrett, Lieut.-Colonel,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
II.—Relative merits of KOWEIT and BAHREIN
vvnat are relative merits of Koweit and BnlirA^r. v t? • i •
hypothetical, of course. ' " ^nqmry at this stage is only
This is with reference to your express message No. 293 S.
Letter No. 354: S. of 1929 from the Hon J lent Cnl r n t d
7^^ 171 the ^ ^ ^ ^eiin
Relative merits of Kuwait Babr^ as H^ar.. of the Political Resident
Sir,
dated t£eT4A t, lI 1 g 0 u s 0 t n i r 929. ePly " f0ll0WS t0 ^ in J™ telegram No. 2481 S.