'File No. 14/5 MINERAL DEPOSITS IN DHOFAR' [‎22v] (44/115)

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No. 389 , dated 23 rd September 1913 .
From— Captain W. H. I. Shakespear, I.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. , Kuwait,
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. .
With reference to your No. 2809, dated the 16th September 1913, regarding
the truculent behaviour of Arab passengers on board British ships, I have the
honour to submit the following observations.
2 . In the copies of correspondence enclosed with your letter it would appear
that the offending Arab passengers have generally been either Basris or Bahrainis,
though I observe that 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. , Bahrain, does include Kuwaitis in his
report dated the 10th August 1913.
3. My own experience in Kuwait has been that the most troublesome
passengers on board ships are usually Basrah or Bahraini Arabs; no case has
hitherto come to my knowledge of a complaint against Kuwaitis. I would add
that though hundreds of Arabs from other ports come for service as divers with
Kuwait Nakhudas, very few Kuwaitis go elsewhere for service.
4 . It will be seen therefore that to approach Shaikh Sir Mubarak-as-Subah
in the matter will be giving him the opportunity of the obvious retort indicated
above. In point of fact I have no doubt that offending Kuwait passengers would
oe dealt with in the most summary fashion by Shaikh Mubarak if a complaint of
actual misbehaviour by Kuwaitis should be put forward by this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
5. On an occasion in May 1912 a somewhat similar incident occurred when
300 Basris^proceeded to disembark in Kuwait from the S. S. “ Palitana ” without
paying their fares and after threatening the Chief Officer. I happened to reach
the ship before they had all left and had no difficulty in securing the Shaikh’s
Customs Master s assistance in detaining the whole number at the Customs until
they had paid up.
A second instance was a quarrel between some Bahrainis and the ship’s
Persian coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. , reported in my letter No. 185, dated 10th May 1913.
6 My own opinion, which I express with some diffidence, is that the trucu
lent behaviour complained of is largely induced by the want of firmness shown by
a few ships’ officers and the casual manner in which local Agents book any
number of passengers regardless of possible or probable accommodation. The
incident on board the S. S. Bankura referred to in the correspondence
forwarded with your letter occurred in Bushire harbour and I cannot understand
why in such cases the vessel does not remain in port with a signal for help flying
until the necessary assistance from the shore can arrive, even though the delay
may necessitate missing a mail connection. The passengers may use threats but
are hardly likely to proceed much beyond them. When masters yield to these
threats they invite a repetition of the incident on the next occasion that some of
the same passengers travel by a steamer.
In Kuwait, where I have no guard available, I should have no hesitation in
requesting the master of a vessel to remain at anchor until I could obtain a
guard from the Shaikh to deal with any number of truculent passengers he
might have
No. 31 , dated the 2 oth September 1913 .
From—C n OTAW F. E. CROW, British Consul, Basrah,
To— Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., 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. , Bushire.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2811 of the
16th instant with enclosures.
I see no objection from a capitulatory point of view to the commanders of
British India steamers providing themselves with a Turkish guard while in
lurkish waters for the protection of their vessels when circumstances require it,
provided they do so through the medium and with the concurrence of this Consu
late. Due notice should be given me beforehand in order to enable me to
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