'تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للسنوات ١-١٩١٤" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٩] (٤٨٨/٢٦٢)

FOR THE YEAR 1912.
119
attend the investiture, the reasons for his absence being accordingly explained
to the Shaikh.
The Shaikh was informed that negotiations between the Porte and His
Baghadad Railway. Majesty's Government were proceeding
with a view to the final settlement of all
differences between them concurrently with a solution of the Baghdad Railway
terminus question. Interested as he naturally must be in such a matter the
Shaikh appears content to leave his own part of the case in our hands, confident
that we will obtain for him such terms as may be compatible with his interests.
Al; the same time he does not admit that the lapse of time has given the Turkish
Government any better right to the points on his boundaries still occupied by
their petty detachments.
The cordial and intimate relations existing between Shaikh Mubarak and
with the shaikh of Mohammerah. Shaikh Khazal continue to be cemented by
the exchange of frequent visits. Shaikh
Mubarak visited Pailiyah four times during the year in his yacht remaining on
each occasion from three to five weeks.
Shaikh Khazal with his Secretary, Haji Eais, arrived in Shaikh Mubarak's
yacht on the 22nd August escorted by his own launch. He was received by
the Shaikh with his usual warmth and hospitality, and after spending about a
week in Kuwait the party returned to Mohammerah on the 29th August.
Shaikhs Salim bin Mubarak, Ahmed bin Jabir, Ali bin Khalifah and others
of Shaikh Mubarak's family have also visited Eailiyah.
Friendly relations which were revived last year still subsist between the
with the shaikh of Bahrain. Subah ^ a n d Al Khalifah families,
though no visits were exchanged.
In January the Mission established a Minister in Kuwait and rented
with the American Mission. another house from the Shaikh for his use.
3 The staff now consists of a doctor, a ladv
doctor, and a Minister assisted by a colporteur and a dispenser. Plans have
been prepared and the material ordered for the proposed Mission hospital and
work will shortly be commenced on the site which, as alreadv stated in the
report for 1910, has been acquired on the west side of the town. *
Various members of the Mission from other stations have visited Kuwait
during the year, among them Br. Mylrea and Mr. Shaw. Dr. P. W Harrison
in the course of his work, visited the pearl-banks by native boat during the
diving season, but found himself unable to do much beyond dispensino- a few
medicines. b
The Shaikh's relations with the Mission have been uniformly friendly and
he took pains to provide them with a house when the one already occupied bv
them had to be vacated suddenly. 1 ^
Messrs. Wonckhaus & Co., who through their native agents have end-
With Germans. • eavoured since last year to acquire a foot
. hold in Kuwait by the purchase of small
quantities of wheat and barley imported from Hindian and other minor
ports, continued their efforts and one of their European staff also approached
the Shaikh on one of the latter's visits to Mohammerah for permission
to open a branch in Kuwait under European supervision. The Shaikh
gave an evasive reply and sugsrested their addressing themselves first to the
Political Resident or the Political Agent. In April, apparently finding that
they were wasting time and money in Kuwait, their native agents ibdulla
Germani " and Alexander Forage, a Baghdad Christian, who had spent some
months m Kuwait m an expensively furnished office, returned to Basrah bao-
and baggage. Towards the end of the year Abdulla again visited Kuwait
presumably m the firm's interests but he left for Basrah on the 26th Decem-
There has been no epidemic in Kuwait or in its environs during the year.
Public Htaith. an ^ health of the port has been very
good throughout-