'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎545v] (66/73)

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date garden, purchased by Shaikh Mubarak of Kuwait in 1908 from the lady’s
ancestor, Shafiyah, wife of Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. bin Qassim al Zuhair.
The Bashiyah garden is part of the main “ Faddaghiyeh ” estate purchased
separately in 1908 by. Shaikh Mubarak from Aisha, wife of Ahmed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al
Zuhair, and there were indications at the end of the year that the descendants
of the original vendor were about to file suits on similar grounds for recovery
of the hitter from the Shaikh of Kuwait. The matter is engaging the attention
of His Majesty’s Government.
(d) In the midle of the year the Customs Department of the Iraq Govern
ment insisted that the Kuwait boats which conveyed drinking water from the
Shatt-el-Arab to Kuwait should report at the Iraq Customs post at Fao and
leave only after receipt of permission to depart. On representation of the delay
and inconvenience resulting from this regulation the Iraq Government offered
to waive it provided the Shaikh of Kuwait would personally guarantee that the
water boats did not engage in smuggling.
(e) The Shaikh of Kuwait visited Baghdad on 21st August on a private
visit to His Majesty King Feisal. 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. accompanied him as
far as Basrah. The Shaikh was well received by His Majesty and by all officials
with whom he came in contact and the visit may be said to have been successful
as far as it went. On his departure the Shaikh was invested with the Order
of the Rafidain 1st Class.
IX. —Relations with Peesia.
These have not changed in any way from previous years.
The Persian Central Government continues to refuse to recognize Kuwait
and Kuwait reciprocates by having as little to do with her awkward neighbour
as possible.
Unfortunately the passport question continues to provide the irritant from
which “ an incident ” is always possible. Any Kuwaiti going direct to
Mohammerah or other Persian^ port has his Kuwait certificate of Identity torn
up by the local Persian authorities and is fined, on the excuse that the Persian
Government does not recognize Kuwait. Similarly anv Persian visiting Kuwait
from a Persian port brings along the “ Ilm-o-Khabar ” or yellow piece of paper,
permitting the traveller to proceed from the Persian Port of so and so to the
Persian Port of Kuwait. On his arrival this paper is confiscated and he is given
a Kuwait Certificate of Identity on which the traveller is shown as a Persian
subject on a visit to Kuwait.
(n) During the year the Persian Government has made two efforts to get
its court ‘ summons ’ served on persons in Kuwait. These, under orders from
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. , have been refused.
(b) The advent of Persian men-of-war in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. has caused some
hard thinking to be done by the people of Kuwait. The Persians, they sav
are quite capable of committing a folish act of aggression against anv Arab
State without thought of the consequences. They are, on the'other hand not
over-confident that His Majesty’s Government will ‘ see them through ’ if such
incident happened.
X.—Oil interests.
. The year 1932 opened with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited enter
ing the field m opposition to the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited as re-
presented by Major Frank Holmes.
Early ill February the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, got permission
from the Shaikh to send down two geologists, a Mr. Cox and Mr Tate to make
a superficial surface survey of Kuwait territory.
i Ar e h"'® re f i° 1IoWe i at the . el ! d of February by Mr. Shaw, Head Geologist
at I iclds , who made an aerial survey of the Principality.
By permission of the Shaikh Mr. Shaw also started a shallow surface boring
at Mudaira on the north side of the bay and followed'it up with a similar
shallow bore at Burgan, 32 miles south of Kuwait. Mr. Cox was in elm rue
of these operations which continued well into April. cnar&(