Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎195r] (394/1028)

serving great countries like India and Australia must look upon it as a some
what irksome duty to have to come down at Kuwait. There is however always
the political aspect of the case to be thought of. The Shaikh of Kuwait was not
out to get his £500 a year only, when he signed the Civil Air Agreement early m
the year, but was thinking of his people’s interests as- well. His view is that
the Company contracted for a fixed sum of money to do their best to call at his
State regularly, with their aircraft. They have however during 1934 shown a
rather unfortunate tendency to want to cut Kuwait out. This makes the
Shaikh think he is not being treated quite fairly. The question is being dealt
with under separate report.
4 . On the other hand it is satisfactory to record, as one writes this report,
that Imperial Airways have inaugurated a bi-weekly service to and from the
East as from 1 st January 1935.
5 . The Civil Agreement officially known as “ The Agreement for the Regu
lation and Control of Civil Aircraft ”, was signed by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and
the Shaildi on the 23rd May 1934.
By an exchange of letters the privileges of Royal Air Force aircraft were
confirmed.
(d) Boat Building. —1. A note on the number, tonnage, etc., of boats built
during the year will be found in the Trade Report for 1934.
2 Speaking generally the boat building industry was stagnant in 1934.
This being almost entirely due to the continued depression in the pearl trade.
For instance out of some 700 pearl boats which are able to go to sea, only 277
actually went to the “ banks ” The remainder were laid up and kept m
repair.
3 . Two interesting “ contracts ” were however given to Kuwait in the
shipbuilding line during 1934, which helped the local industry not a little :
(a) The Iraq Government ordered the pontoons lor the new boat biidge
at Amara to be built in Kuwait.
tb) The Basra Port Trust ordered a specially designed dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , for the
use of the Iraq Customs Police service. • This latter on completion
will, it is understood, be lined near the water line with steel
plates as a protection against rifle fire.
(e) Pearl Season,— 1. One has to again record with regret that, this staple
and practically only industry of Kuwait, was once again a failure m ,.o4.
2 sail-making and shark oil industry which goes with boat building,
was similarly sympathetically affected.
3 The attenuated pearl fleet put to sea between 3rd May and 25th May
/Rakbal and returned from the banks on 27th September, when as usual the
Ruler proceeded to the banks and gave the signal for the fleet’s return by filing
a gun salvo from his yacht.
A As usual “ scurvy ” made its appearance among the divers, but
apparently not in such bad form as on previous occasions. Neither Captairis
nor Ruler appear to recognise the wastage of man power which results fiom
the dread disease. But then the Arab places small value on human life.
t Tt is interesting to record that several hundred Iraqi tribesmen as well
as an even' larger quota from Saudi Arabia came down to Kuwait to try their
luck on the annual dive.
m Poverty in the Town of Kuwait.-1. This was once again a feature of
~ s z «
years, and general world conditions.
2. The Ruler continued throughout the year to give one square meal a day
to the “ down and out ”.
. QWl/h nf the “ Oil ” Agreement on 23rd December
3. The signing bv the ^aith ot “e t u <( ^ Qf ^ „ elements in tl , e
1934, was received "> th S^t rei K . gcoreg f Beduoin ashing when
t^i^KuwIt Oil Company. There is little doubt