Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎281v] (567/1028)

CHAPTER IX.
Administration Report op the Kuwait Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1932.
I.-—Personnel.
( a ) Lieutenant Colonel H. R. P. Dickson, C I.E., LA., held charge of the Poli
tical Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. throughout the year.
(b) Assistant Surgeon A. L. Greenway, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., was in
medical charge of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Charitable Dispensary, and performed the duties
of Quarantine Officer throughout the year, except for the period 2nd June to 2nd
October, when Assistant Surgeon R. Easy was m charge, Dr. Greenway having
proceeded on leave to the L nited Kingdom.
II. —Tite Ruling Family.
(a) The Ruler His Excellency Shaikh Sir Ahmed-al-Jabir-al-Subah, K.C.I.E.,
C.S.I., has managed his State during the year under review with ability and
success.
He has maintained correct and friendly relations wifh his two powerful
neighbours, the Kingdom of Iraq and the Kingdom of Saudiyah (Hejaz-Nejd),
lying to the north and south of his territory respectively ; in spite of the dis
appointing policy of the former in the matter of the Al-Subah date gardens on
the Shatt-al-Arab, and other matters on the one hand, and the close trade blockade
on the land side, by the forces of His Majesty King Bin Saud, whose avowed Object
would still appear to be either to force Kuwait to acknowledge him as suzerain
by the simple process of strangulation or to destroy her economically.
The closeness of the blockade, whidh during the year was placed under the
control of the notoriously harsh and cruel Governor of Hassa, the Amir Abdulla
ibn Jiloui, and so became perhaps tighter than ever before, coupled with the
failure of the 1932 Pearl Season, for the fourth year in succession, has reduced
Kuwait to such a state of poverty and distress that it has required all the skill
and patience of the Ruler to prevent the hot-headed members of his family from
attempting retaliatory measures in the form of intrigues with the Border Tribes
This was especially the case during Ibn Rifada’s rebellion against Bin Saud in
North Hejaz, when undoubtedly efforts were made by those behind the Ibn Kifada
movement to lake advantage of the bitterness felt in Kuwait against Bin Sand*
to start surreptitious trouble in the north-east corner of the King’s dominions.
So wisely has the Ruler dealt with the internal situation that his personal
popularity as Ruler still stands high among the stable elements of the Town :
this in spite of the fact that, during the year under review, he has had to adopt that
most unpopular expedient in the eyes of an Arab of cutting down the salaries and
food allowances of the various members of his family (some 200 in number), as
well as make a 30 per cent, cut in the wages of his servants, personal guards, and
State forces (fidawiyeh).
(b) On the 1st January His Excellency the Shaikh accompanied by some
personal friends and a party of retainers left for Bahrain and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates.
on board the S.S. Chakla ” (specially chartered). His Excellency the Shaikh
was the guest of the Hon’ble 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . He
returned on 15th January.
(r) His Excellency the Shaikh’s 3rd son, Mohamed, who was sent to Beyrout,
early in 1930 to be educated returned to Kmvait at the end of June. As he was
making poor progress there, His Excellency the Shaikh decided to bring him
back, and send him to England instead. Negotiations for this purpose are now
in Land.
III. —Relations wuth the Shaikh.
The relations between His Majesty’s 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 Ruler have con
tinued to be of a most cordial and satisfactory 7 nature, during the year under
review.
The policy of 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. has been and continues to be to interfere
as little as possible in the internal administration of the Town and State of
Kuwait, but in matters of Foreign Policy to adopt a course of watchfulness.
This state of affairs, in the opinion of the waiter, is as near the ideal as
possible, for he Ruler is flattered and pleased to think that he is being allowed