'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎115r] (229/416)

CHAPTER IX.
Administration Report of the Kuwait Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the year 1933.
I.— Personnel.
(a) Lt.-Colonel H. R. P. Dickson, C.I.E., I.A., held charge of the Political
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. throughout the year.
{b) Assistant Surgeon A. L. Greenway, M.R.C.S., L.R.GP. (Lond.),
was in medical charge of the Charitable Dispensary and performed the duties of
Quarantine officer throughout the year.
II.— The Ruling Family.
(A) The Ruler, His Excellency Shaikh Sir Ahmad al Jabir-as-Sabah,
K.C.I.E., C.S.I., has managed his State during the year under review with more
than ordinary ability and success. He has maintained correct and friendly
relations with his two powerful neighbours, the Kingdom of Traq and the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, lying to the North and South of his territory
respectively.
(b) The closeness of the trade blockade into Saudi Arabia which during the
year under review continued to be controlleri by the notoriously harsh Governor
of Hasa, the Amir Abdulla bin Jaloui al Sand, coupled with the partial failure
of the 1933 Pearl Season (for the fifth year in succession) has once again brought
misery and distress to the Town, and has required much patience and firmness
on the part of the Ruler to prevent indignant members of his family from intrigu
ing with the trans-border tribes of Bin Saud, especially as the King’s long drawn
out dispute with the Imam of Yemen appeared to offer an ideal chance of doing
so. In this matter of Bin Sand’s Blocakde, the Ruler has steadfastly adopted
a non-irritating policy towards the King, and has continued to place his reliance
on the promise given him by His Majesty’s Government during the “ Akhwan ”
rebellion of 1929-30, which was to the effect that in return for his (the Shaikh of
Kuwait’s) neutrality and co-operation, the British Government would use her
best endeavours to bring about the raising of the Blockade.
HI.— 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. 's relations ivith the Shaikh.
The relations between His Majesty’s 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. and the Ruler have
continued to be of a most cordial and satisfactory nature during the year under
review.
IV.— Local Interests.
(a) Customs. —1. A full report on the imports and exports for the year
will be found in the “ Kuwait Trade Report ”, a non-confidential publication.
2. The Director of Customs, Yusuf bin Jassim al Yacub, continues to do
satisfactorv work and the Shaikh reposes full confidence in him. In actual
practice the Shaikh personallv directs everything connected with the Customs
matters in the State and Yusuf bin Jassim is nothing more nor less than a
o-lorified Head Clerk, who knows nothing about policy, nor is allowed to meddle
fn matters outside the accounts branch, the boarding of steamers, and the land
ing of cargoes.
q TPe port “ Lighter ” service has been efficient and continues to work on
Ike Hues introduced last year whereby no boats go out to steamers until the
latter have cast anchor and lowered the “ Haji Daly ”, a black cross (invented
bv Maior Dalv of Bahrain) indicating that the ships engines had definitely
stonned Caniams of ships have not been slow to praise the new system, and
now come right into the inner harbour opposite the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. thus showing a
graceful appreciation of what has been done to meet their wishes m the matter.
4 Customs receipts in 1933 for the first time for some years took a turn for
the better. Figures for the year have not been pub ished as yet, but according
to the Shaikh hhould show an improvement on 1932 of some Ks. 30,UUU. 11ns
is due primarily to improved world conditions, better trade with the hinterland
tribes and to a'lesser extent to smuggling with Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Persia
an perhaps to slightly improved pearl conditions. His Excellency remarked
that for the first time during the last six years, customs receipts had been
sufficient to meet the monthly salaries of the many scions of the Shaikhly House
of the “ Al Sabah ”. In previous years he had invariably to dip into State