'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎542r] (59/73)

51
fuU rem to ** nm hU own skew »in internal matters, and is wise enough to appre
ciate lhat t ie 1 UMtcting 1 ower should have a say in his dealings with his
neighbours. Indeed he goes farther and shows anxiety that his foreign policy-
should oe m the mam guided by 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. as representing His Majesty's
Government, or the obvious reason that he knows that he would have no chance
against the astute politicians who guide the destinies of Iraq, Persia and Saudiyah
ILis fieixloin fi om interference in his internal affairs, apart from the mutual
confidence it breeds, (nables tlie Ruler successfully to cbmbat the suggestions so
often put forward by a^i-English elements in the State that the definite policy of
His Majesty s Government is giadually to absorb the various Arab States round
Arabia and especially those in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and put them under direct British
control. A rather stupid assertion to the Western mind, considering the past
history of the English in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , but nevertheless one which finds con
siderable credence in some quarters. Of course we have also the equally danger
ous form of anti-British propaganda with ns which preaches that His Majesty’s
Government intend to desert Kuwait and leave her to her own devices on the
first opportunity.
IV.— Local Interests.
(a) Customs .—(?) A full report on the imports and exports for the year will
be found in the Kuwait Trade Report, a non-confidential publication.
(ii) The Director of Customs, Yusuf bin Yassin al Yacub continues to do
satisfactory work and after 2L years trial retains the full confidence of the Ruler.
(Hi) During the year under review several important improvements have
been miected in die internal administration of the Customs Department. These
were most ly connected with the more efficient working of the office and with cer
tain economy measures which the Ruler desired to see carried out.
(iv) The port “Lighter” service has continued to work well and the
arrangement introduced last year whereby no boats go out to steamers until the
latter have cast anchor has earned the praise of masters of ships. Lighters now
all sail out together under the control of a single person who gives the signal for
sails to be hoisted and the lighters to Work. The new system has successfully
done a wav with the fight for position alongside ships Which used to be such a
feature of the port of Kuwait. Captains of ships have shown their appreciation
of the efforts made to control boats by making a point of coming right into the
harbour and anchoring off the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
(v) Customs receipts continue to show a steady decline and this will con
tinue so long as Bin Saud’s Trade Blockade is allowed to continue.
( v i) During the year a certain amount of contraband traffic has existed with
Persia and Ncjd where prices have ruled high ; tins has tended, somewhat, to
raise the Customs receipts for 1932 but only slightly.
Very little contraband, on the other hand, has been carried across the Iraq
ment to contraband runners than those ruling in Nejd and Persia.
SftSB p "“" 0 "“ ~
ln ° hT Excellency the. Shaikh continue^
wortl^Munidpal'secretary ''sulaiman al Adsani, a man of energy and “ push ”
not usually seen among Arabs. , , . -1 • a o^nev’s last
(ii) The electrification of Kuwait Town^o^BS a^ unfortunately failed
Administration Report as certain j Baghdad firm which had received
to materialize oving to the Sped into the breach and the
the contract. Another Baghdad of electric “ standards ” to
end of the year saw the erection, all Spring 0 f 1933 will see Kuwait’s
carry the wiring, etc. It is anticipated that tbe bpr g
first “ power supply func ion i & Bvp in his propaganda for muni-
(iii) The Political continues ^ short of marvellous,
cipal improvements, and the
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