File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎233v] (471/1044)

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130 M Willemsen’s new contract expires next February. He is trying to
renew it' He has informed His Majesty’s Vice-Consul that he had heard privately
that for reasons of economy a Persian Director would replace h .
Shiraz.
131 The question of the Kawam’s tour to Eastern Pars still remains in sus
pense Proposals to Tehran by the. local authorities ehcrt no respo^. If the
tour cannot be arranged, the provincial treasury will lose 5 10,000 tu ans.
M. Gheysens has been hard at work repairing the Pul-i-Khan.
There have been no robberies and little traffic on the roads.
ARABIA.
Bahrain.
; 132 . The policy of repatriating divers has proved most successful. Only about
600 indulgence passages have been found necessary. Relations between Nakhudas
and divers have been satisfactory and the people are facing the crisis well. The
Shaikh is the heaviest hit, as his customs receipts have dropped 80 per cent.
133 On the declaration of war with Turkey, the Shiahs introduced the innova
tion of praying for the Khalifah in all their mosques and indulged m some very
wild talk. Persia’s declaration of neurtality and Great Britain s promise to respect
it caused them to drop the special prayer.
The intelligence of our success in the Shatt-el-Arab arrived early in Muharram,
the Qatl day passed off quietly, and there is much less excitement. A vejy mild
“ Jehad ” was preached in the A1 Fadhil Sunni Mosque and was denounced by the
principal Kazi, Shaikh Jasim, who complained to the Shaikh and the Political
Agent.
Kuwait.
134. The Turkish detachment at Urn Qasr has been withdrawn, hews of the
outbreak of war between Great Britain and Turkey was received quietly and there
was no evidence of anti-British feeling.
Katar.
135. Shaikh Abdullah has acknowledged the receipt of Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. letter
announcing the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Turkey* He makes
no comment but the tone of the letter is perfectly friendly.
Maskat.
136. There was another attack on a British outpost by the Bani Battash on the
night of the 25th October and an interpreter was slightly wounded. The fire was
returned and local report says that one rebel was killed and one wounded. The
Bani Battash are still active in the vicinity of Qarayat.
137. Shai h Hamayar has addressed a letter to the Chiefs of Jaalan promising
them “ anything they wish to ask for ”, if they refrain from assisting His Highness.
He concludes “ the Government is ours and we are the head and leader of it ”.
138. The news of the capture of Basrah was circulated here immediately it
was received. His Highness expressed the liveliest satisfaction. Among the
educated and more enlightened Arabs the fall of Basrah and its occupation by the
British is also regarded with satisfaction. The feelings of the rebel tribesmen are
not yet known. It seems, however, that, while no one harbours any definite
anti-British sentiments, there is much sincere admiration and some sympathy for
the Germans, who are represented as waging war successfully single-handed against
several nations together.
Bushire : S. G. KNOX, Lieut.-Colonel,
On Special Duty.
8th December 1914. In the absence of the Resident.
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