Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎284r] (572/1028)

Except for the fact that the camel pilgrim party were subjected to many
annoying examinations of their luggage by Bin Sand’s officials at Hafar,
Buraida and other places en route, on the absurd pretext that they were convey
ing contraband, no untoward event happened to mar their progress. His
Majesty the King did not come out of the business with, credit ; for relying on
the reports of some miserable spys of his in Kuwait, he thought fit to address
several distinctly impolite letters to the Shaikh of Kuwait on the matter, which
rankled considerably. It may be remarked in passing that overland pilgrims
proceeding to Mecca (God’s House) are not interfered with by religious custom
or sanction and are not required to have their baggage examined. It would
normally be a sinful thing for any of Bin Sand’s people to do this. But
Arabian Kings apparently are above the law.
Y.—Foreign. Interests. (Russian efeorts to get into Kuwait).
During the year under review two attempts were again made by the repre
sentatives of the Soviet Company known as the “ Sharp ” of Mohammerah to
persuade the Ruler to allow Russian ships to call at Kuwait,
They employed merchants of Mohammerah for the purpose. These wrote
letters to the Shaikh showing how advantageous it would be from the Shaikh’s
point of view if Russian ships could be allowed to call and bring cheap goods
to his Town. The Ruler rejected these advances out of hand.
VI.— Condition of the country. (Law and Order).
1. This has been satisfactory and the good progress made in 1931 over 1930
has been maintained.
As reported a year ago the reasons for this improved state of affairs may be
summarized as below :—■
(a) The advent of the motor car, which enable the most inaccessible
corners of the State to be regularly visited by the Shaikh’s armed
Ford cars ;
(b) The control maintained by the Iraq Government over, their tribes
in the Southern Desert, more especially the wilder Dhafir Sections,
and the watchful eye which is kept on the shepherd tribes by their
own Government when they enter Kuwait territory ;
(c) The sympathy felt for Kuwait by the north-east tribes of Arabia as
a result of the blockade, which has resulted in a wide and tacit
arrangement among the Bedouins to do nothing to hurt the people
of Kuwait or its small tribal community ;
(d) The general hatred and distrust felt for Bin Sand to-day by the
north-east transborder Nejd tribes, notably the Awazim, Ajman
and Mutair, who now, more than ever, look to Kuwait with affec
tion and regard and count the time not far distant when they will
once more come under the control of their old lord and master, the
Shaikh of Kuwait : this fact perhaps, more than any other, has a
stabilizing effect in the hinterland and acts as a wholesome
deterrent to anyone minded to raid and start a course of mis
behaviour.
(e) The fact that 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. makes frequent tours into the
hinterland, camps among the Bedouins and generally shows him
self. This breeds a spirit of confidence and a growing belief that
His Majesty’s representative would not be moving about in the
hinterland and among the wild and woolly Arab unless by orders
of the great British Government.
2. The following few incidents were dealt with during the year under
review :—
(a) On 14th March and during the Ruler’s absence in Riath as the guest
of the King, the latter’s frontier officer Ibn Khraimis detached a
party of 12 men under a negro officer named Mubarak into the
Kuwait neutral zone with orders to move about and seize and Nejd
tribesmen coming out from Kuwait with supplies, as well as pursue
any Nejd tribal parties into Kuwait territory, who might be
prospective blockade runners. On 15th March this officer crossed
into Kuwait territory proper and basing himself at the wells of
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