Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎411r] (826/1028)

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On tlie 19th No^vember Shaikh Hatith Wahba Bin Sand’s Minister in
{London arrived at Kuwait and started an intensive anti-rebel propaganda.
On 23rd November as rain pools in the desert had dried up certain rebel
camels bagan to cross the fontier and water at Jahrah. Steps were at once
taken to eject them and prevent the practice in future.
On 25th November, Ibn Hathlain attempted to cross the border and visit
Kuwait and see the Shaikh, but was prevented, and turned back by the Shaikh
himself.
On 29th November, threatening letters began to pour into Kuwait from
Bin Saud, to the effect that he was approaching with a mighty army and that
if the Shaikh allowed a single rebel to cross his frontier he the King would
hold him personally responsible. Similar letters were circulated among the
leaders and nofables of Kuwait by Shaikh Hafith Wahba.
On the 26th November His Excellency the Shaikh formally complained
that Shaikh Hafith Wahba was acting as a “ Consul ” would, and requested
that H. M. Government order him to cease his activities forthwtih. A warning
was duly issued and matters improved somewhat.
On 18th December Bin Sand’s advance guard was. reported at Safa, and
on the same day 5 of his motor cars arrived at Kuwait with letter confirming
the news.
At the same time the rebel forces much reduced in numbers, and with
loaders dailv deserting to Bin Saud, or quietly making off South, moved^ down
to the line of the “ Batin ” and camped more or less between Rigai and Haffar
al Batin. Faisal al Duwish now started opening formal negotiations with
Bin Saud, by means of letters.
The Defence of Kuwait.
The problem of the Defence of Kuwait State received considerable atten-
ton during the year.
Kuwait has an undefended frontier line of 260 miles approximately of
his 120 miles divides her from Nejd and 140 from ’Iraq.
In the days of the great Shaikh Mubarak her frontier started from Jebel
lanifa on the boast of Hassa, and included Nta-Safa and Hattar al -Batin,
hit though her territories were almost 3 times what they are now, she lw.|
ittle to fear from the land side as she brought within her orbit the powerful
liman Mutair (Ilwa) and the Amazon tribes, than whom no fmei ...
nE;“s in Arabia. As the territory of these th-e tr^es fel with n
he then Kuwait boundaries, an attack or raid on Kuwait meant an attack^
hem, and vice versa and attack on tnem meant an a ac Mubarak’s
kjman and Mutair, and with them the tribes themselves.
The Shaikh of Kuwait maintains that he has between
frontier line, wbieh was fixed up at the jail nreseht though his rival
H. M. Government and Bin Saud and ’above were ever
was. Certainly none of the three great ri ^ historv they •belong to
consulted or asked their views. Bv tradition and always
Kuwait, have had “ musabilah ’’with Kuwait ^^"^^“note that one
looked upon Kuwait as their mother city. ,. n recerl t rebellion, was
of the chief objects of the Ajman and of Kuwait,
to throw off the Kejd yoke and once again come under the contro
With the transference of her three great tribes^ m 1923
became for all practical purposes defence ess. ^ yp Government had
trouble and expense would have beon save_ a p orns an d guaranteed the
after the Ojair Conference taken the bull bv the toms, WO uld pro-
defence of Kuwait’s land frontier. Ha ‘ ‘ ^ ^ -g- n g al -,q. a nd would
bably have been spared the last 8 rears cruej blockade^ «i^^ ^
certainly have been saved from the j , w ^- c p p ave rnode hv the
territory (in some cases right ur> to ^ ei ‘ , c aTT1 e -period. Her defenceless
regular and irregular forces of Reid ? p^ e d than hv quoting the
state during this period cannot he better exempimea
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