'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎125r] (249/416)

1
REVIEW.
Arab Side.
Royal Navy. The Sloops of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division continued their
excellent patrol work on the Arab Coast. They were frequently called upon to
assist the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. and Political Officers under him m making: their
tours. '
Aviation—The Flying Boats of the Royal Air Force did much useful work
in connection with the establishment of the Air Route. Some flights of land
machines were also made. By the courtesy of the Roval Air Force Political
Officers were enabled to make tours from time to time in Royal Air Force
machines which proved a considerable convenience.
An Air Agreement was negotiated with the Rulers of Bahrain, Kuwait
and Muscat and air facilities were obtained at Dibai.
Imperial Aairways continued their weekly service—East and West—
throughout the year. Kuwait remains as a port of call provided conditions
permit.
For various reasons the Arabian Air Route is still closed to private
aviators.
Oil Interests —The, Kuwait Oil Company formed at the end of 1934, by the
amalgamation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited, and the Gulf Oil
Company of America opened negotiations with the Shaikh of Kuwait for a
concession which was finally signed in Kuwait on the 23rd December 1934.
The Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited continued to exploit their con
cession actively. During the year several new wells were sunk and at its con
clusion the total personnel of the Company was as follows i—
Americans ..
• • • *
24
British
..
15
British Indians
..
43
Bahrainis ...
.. .,
.. 348
Others
..
,. 149
construction of the tanks
on Sitra Island and the
laying of a sub-
marine pipe-line from there to the deep sea moorings which are three miles
from the shore, were completed during the year. In June the first shipment of
approximately 3,300 tons of crude oil was made to Japan.
Various points in connection with the Company’s Mining Lease from the
Shaikh which had been the subject of negotiations between His Majesty’s
Government on behalf of the Shaikh and the Company were concluded by the
end of the year, and on the 29th December the Mining Lease was signed.
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited continued their negotiations with
the Shaikh of Qatar for a concession in his territory and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
paid various visits to that place to interview the Shaikh. By the end of the
year there were some prospects of success.
Kuwait .—Nothing further of a definite nature towards the solution of the
difficult problem of the Shaikh of Kuwait’s date gardens in Iraq was accom
plished during the year.
Pearling, the staple industry of Kuwait was a failure in 1934, due partly
to an indifferent catch and partly owing to a bad market.
Strenuous efforts were made by His Majesty’s Government, without suc
cess to assist Kuwait and Iraq to come to some agreement on the question of
Kuwait-Iraq Smuggling in the direction of combined co-operation between
the two States. Under arrangements made by His Excellency The Ambassador
at Baghdad and bv the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. Iraqi delegates visited Kuwait m
September for informal discussions with the Shaikh, but nothing concrete
resulted. Further incidents occurred of Iraqi Customs officials m an illegal
and high-handed manner invading the territory and tern orial waters <>
Kuwait, and of their shooting and assaulting Kuwaiti subjects In spite oi
representations made by His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the Shaikh to
the Iraqi Government, no reparations have been forthcoming from the latter,
their reply bein-' that either such incidents did not take place as reported or