'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎76v] (159/396)

74
PEESTAN GULr ADMINISTRATION REPORT
chapter xl
ADMINISTRATION KEPOKT EOR THE KUWAIT AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE
YEAR 1916.
Tliere has been a remarkable growth in the prosperity of Kuwait in the
year under review. This is in the main
General due to expansion of trade with the
interior and also to some extent to an excellent pearling season of which
more anon. The shipbuilding industry 5 also, has been lively owing
to the demand for lighters and other cratfc on the Siiatt-ol-Aiab. All classes
appear to have shared in the general improvement, especially craftsmen,
sailors and labourers. Building operations are in evidence in all quarters of the
town, which is rapidly extending."
The exigencies of the war have compelled the British India Steam
Navigation Company latterly to curtail their services to the port, In the
first half of 1916 a monthly average of four of the Company's steamers was
maintained, but since then the average has dropped to one a month. However,
the Arab and Persian steamship lines have been making up for this deficiency
to some extent by more frequent calls, and all steamers are now bringing
heavier cargoes than formerly.
The climate was equable ; the maximum, highest temperature recorded
was 109°, on July 15th, and the lowest 40°, in January. The rainfall was 5
inches and 90 cents.
The installation of the water condensing plant was still far from comple
tion at the end of the year. Tlie pre-
Watei Supply. occupation of the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company in war-work may have contributed to the delay, as also the great
difficulty in obtaining material from England. It is hoped, however, that
the plant will be in working order by the middle of May, 1917. Until then,
all water required must be brought from the Shatt-el-Arab, some 70 or 80
miles distant.
The generally pro-British attitude of the Shaikh and people of Kuwait
TheWai . was maintained throughout the year,
Some little irritation, arising from the
restrictions of our blockade, was perhaps natural in a community composed
chiefly of traders, large and small. Moreover, prices obtainable in Hail and Syria
were singularly attractive and, though aware that the very existence of his
business depended on the British connection, it w^as exasperating to the trader
to have to forego such a golden harvest. Shaikh Jabir al Mubarak, though
our very good friend, was not the robust ally that his father had proved him
self to be. He had only recently succeeded to the Shaikhdom and was anxious
to be a popular ruler. The blockade was unpopular and Jabir gave us little or
no real assistance in making it effective. Still, the failure of the operations to
relieve Kut in the earlier part of the year and the eventual fall of that place
did not affect Kuwait, as it would have done had there existed any under
current of serious antagonism towards us. And after Bin Saud's visit, in Nov
ember, and the epoch-making meetings which then took place between him and
the Shaikhs of Kuwait and Alohammerah with the Chief Political Officer, it
seemed as if the pro-Turkish party were definitely discredited. Literature on
t e ^ar, especialjy Renter s telegrams, the Basrah Times, the Mukattam and
0 n . e ^P a P ers were in demand. The atrocities of the Germans and
particularly their ill-treatment of the Belgians have made a deep impression.
The massacre ot the Armenians is also frequently quoted against the Turks,
who are perhaps more odious to the Arabs than to ourselves.
An overland telegraph line has been^ constructed between Basrah and
Posts and Telegraphs. Kuwait, via Zobeir, Um Kasr and Sabi'
yah, a route which, though considerably