Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎17r] (38/133)

7
(C 43043)
The area between KHOR KALBA (some 5 miles south of KALBA) and DIBAH is
otherwise independent. The tribes owe nominal allegiance to the Shaikh of SHARJAH,
but they do not give it, and the Shaikh makes no attempt to exercise his authority in this
district.
(See Plan 2.)
The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company has obtained concessions from the Shaikhs of RAS-AL-
KHAIMAH, AJMAN, SHARJAH, DEBAT, ABU DHABI and QATAR to explore for oil
in their respective territories. The concession in QATAR has been taken over by Petroleum
Development (QATAR), Ltd.
BAHRAIN
The BAHRAIN group of islands, situated on the Arabian shore of the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
consists of two chief and a number of smaller islands. BAHRAIN Island is the most important
and largest, being 30 miles long by 10 miles wide, with an area of 208 square miles.
MUHARRAK, the next in importance, lies two miles to the north-east of BAHRAIN and has
an area of 5J square miles. These two islands have now been joined together by an artificial
causeway.
/
BAHRAIN is an independent Arab State under British protection, but is not a British
Protectorate. The nominal ruler is Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifah, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., but
the control of the administration comes under the Government of INDIA.
The ruling Shaikh is precluded by his engagements with H.M. Government from receiving
the representations of, or entering into relations with, foreign Powers, and from ceding, selling,
mortgaging, or giving for occupation, save to H.M. Government, any part of his territory.
He is bound to suppress the slave trade, to prohibit traffic in arms within his territory, and he
is precluded from granting a concession for oil, or for pearl fishing, save with the approval of
H.M. Government.
The Shaikh has a British financial adviser, a State Engineer and a Director of Customs,
all of whom are the Shaikh’s servants and paid from BAHRAIN funds.
H.M Government and the Government of INDIA are represented by a Resident Political
Agent, who is directly subordinate to 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. in the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
In connection with the international status of the island, the last twenty years have seen
the consolidation of British influence, but this has not affected the claim by PERSIA that the
island is Persian. This claim has been constantly reasserted by PERSIA, and as constantly
repudiated by H.M. Government. A factor which cannot be ignored is the rise of Ibn Saud
and the Wahabi movement which, though at present has not affected BAHRAIN, may form
a danger from a practical standpoint in the future.
BAHRAIN has acquired increased importance since 1935, when the main Naval base
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division was transferred here from HEN JAM. It has also the largest
natural aerodrome in the East and is a stopping place for Imperial Airways services on the
IRAQ-KARACHI route. In addition, there is a large oilfield and refinery on the main island.
KUWAIT
r KUWAIT lies on the Arabian mainland in the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , about 50 miles S.W.
of FAO and 80 miles south of BASRA. The boundaries are shown on Plan 2.
In 1922/23 the islands of WARBA, BUBIYAN, MASHJANG, FAILAKAH, AUHAH,
K-UBBAR, QARU and UMM-AL-MARADIN were attributed to KUWAIT.
KUWAIT is, like BAHRAIN, an independent Arab State under British protection, but
not a British Protectorate. The present Ruler is Shaikh Sir Ahmad-Al-Jabir-al-Sabah,
K.C.I.E., C.S.I., born in 1885, and succeeded in March, 1921. He is precluded by his engage
ments with GREAT BRITAIN from receiving foreign representatives, and from ceding,
leasing, mortgaging, or giving for occupation, or any other purpose, any portion of his
territory to any foreigner or foreign Power without the sanction of H.M. Government. He
is bound to prohibit the import of arms into his territory, and although there is no slave
treaty, he does much to suppress that traffic. He has agreed not to give a concession for
oil, or for sponge fishing, without the approval of H.M. Government. The internal administra
tion is conducted by the Shaikh, assisted in theory by an elected .Council of Advisers, consisting
of 14 members, 9 notables and 5 members of the Shaikh’s family. The President is the
Shaikh’s cousin. The Shaikh himself is the executive power and has the right of veto.
H.M. Government and the Government of INDIA are represented by a 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. ,
who is directly subordinate to the Politcal Resident in the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This officer
does not hold His Majesty’s Commission as a Consul or exercise Consular functions, but holds
considerable judicial and other powers under the terms of the KUWAIT Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council.
of 1935.