'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎544r] (63/73)

55
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
Bur aid a and other places en route, on the absurd pretext that they were convey
ing' contraband, no untoy<ird e\ent happened to mar their progress. Jlis
vere convey-
Majesty the iving did not come out ot the business with credit ; for reiving on
the reports of some miserable spys of his in Kuwait, he thought tit 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 Saud’s people to do this. But
Arabian Kings apparently are above the law.
V. Foreign Interests. (Russian efforts 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 “ Sharq ” 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 he 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 Kinvait vith aifoe-
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.
‘2.
review
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