'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1938' [‎20v] (40/60)

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VI. FOREIGN RELATIONS.
(а) Saudi Arabia. —King Ibn Saud sent a private invitation to the Ruler
of Kuwait to visit him in the new palace at Riyadh. The Ruler replied that
if he could, he would visit him about the last week in Ramadhan, but event
ually the visit was postponed until the spring of 1939.
(б) The Saudi trade blockade of Kuwait continued throughout the year.
Towards the close of the year, however, the Saudi Government took up a more
reasonable attitude in the negotiations on the subject, and there were hopes
of the settlement of this long-standing question.
(c) Aftermath of the Ikhwan Revolt, 1928-30. —Shaikh Multaq as Sur of
the Mutair received the King Ibn Saud's pardon and invitation to return
to him. He left Kuwait for Riyadh on the 23rd May, after some 8
years' exile in Kuwait.
Iraq. —One case of incursion by Iraqi police cars into Kuwait territory in
the neighbourhood of Qashaniya and Hanibiyah occurred in June. No satis
faction was forthcoming from the Iraqi Government in reply to the protest
made in regard to it.
VII. PRESS.
The Iraqi Press contini ed to publish hostile attacks on Kuwait during
the year. In this connection the Shaikh of Kuwait having complained
especially against the paper A1 Sejil of Basrah, the Iraq Government authorised
its postal authorities to refuse to accept it for transmission to Kuwait.
VIII. OIL.
The difficulty found in boring the well at Burgan, 35 miles south of Kuwait
Town, owing to fissures, with consequent loss of mud circulation, has been
overcome. On the 13th October, oil was struck in No. 2 well of a similar quali
ty and depth (3,750 feet) to that found some-time before in No. 1 well in the
same neighbourhood. Pressure is also likely to be about the same and
prospects for oil development in Kuwait are now definitely bright.
His Highness the Shaikh was invited to witness the Burgan well producing
oil.
IX. ROYAL NAVY.
His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief on board H.M.S. Norfolk visited
Kuwait between the 1st and 3rd December. The Ruling family and the
notables of the place were invited by His Excellency to visit him and see the
ship. These visits to the ship were very much appreciated.
Various other visits were paid by His Majesty's ships, sloops of the Per
sian Gulf Division, during the year.
X. ROYAL AIR FORCE.
{a) Aircrafts of the Royal Air Force landed at Kuwait as usual in the
course of their ordinary routine duties during the year under review.
(6) A bomber-transport aircraft with petrol nearly exhausted landed on
the 7th July on the shore ten miles south of Kuwait Town without any damage.
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. went to the spot and rendered assistance.
(c) Exercises with Kuwait forces. —During the year under review, an exer
cise in co-operation with the Shaikh's forces was carried out near Kuwait
by No. 4 Section Armoured cars from Shaiba under Wing Commander T. E.
Ivons. Aircraft of No. 84 Squadron was also present for the operation, the
value of which was very much appreciated by the Ruling family and the
notables of Kuwait.