Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎326v] (657/1028)

[d) Mr. Alexander Sloan, United States Consul-General at Baghdad visited
Kuwait from Iraq travelling overland from Basrah by car on 26th February. H e
was the guest of the American community. He called on 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. on
27th February and dined at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . On 28th he was taken for a motor car
trip along the coast South of Kuwait for a distance of 30 miles. He left ao- a in on
29th February.
(e) On 26th March one Herr George Kraz and his wife Freeda Kraz, both
Austrian Citizens referred to in the Sind Police Gazette of 20th March 1931
arrived disguised as Arabs from Bahrain by motor launch. Their disguise
was easily seen through and both were sent to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. by the Ruler
for enquiring into their antecedents. Herr Kraz explained that he was a Muslim
a doubtful statement, and desired to go overland to Mecca for the Haj. His Ex
cellency the Shaikh allowed him to remain 5 days to look round the Town and then
asked him to leave through 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. . Both left for Basrah on 31st
March.
During his visit Herr Kraz w r as reported by a member of the American Mission
to have spoken bitterly against the British in the Bazaars and conversely to have
lauded up to the skys the Soviet and German Governments. He apj eared to have
little money and Begged the Shaikh and others for funds to assist him on his journey..
He spoke Turkish well.
(/) A Rumanian theatrical artist called Leonida Greenberg with his wife and a
lady called Larisa Besronkoya arrived from Basrah on 28th April, without pre
vious permission having been asked of 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. if they could come. Tbit
latter requested them to return the same day.
Apparently their period of “ Sejour ” in Iraq had expired, and Kuwait
became a convenient city outside the frontier from which to again seek entry into
Iraq. To get rid of them 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. , had no course but to endorse their
passports for Iraq once more.
(g) Shaikh Mohomed al Isa al Khaifa of Bahrain arrived from Basrah on 15th
August and sailed for Bahrain on 16th August.
(k) Seyed Mohomed Khairi ibn Khair Halabi of Syria, Nationalist Editor and
owner of the C£ Wafa al Arab ” newspaper of Damascus arrived at Kuwait on 16th
August. He left again for Bahrain on 30th August. He apparently desired to
collect funds for Nationalistic purposes in Syria, but got no “ change ” out of the
Ruler.
(f) A certain Doctor Reasoner, a rather down at heel but extremely clever
American Dentist, who had been carrying on a precarious business in Kuwait for
some 4 years, left Kuwait for Basrah on 3rd November. Certain friends there
had promised him regular work under the Port Directorate if he would transfer his
business there.
At tne last moment it was found that he owed the Shaikh a considerable sum
o money, both on account of a personal loan, and for rental due on the house he
had occupied for 4 years.
tlw. III i , nf ° rmed him he could not leave the Town till lie liquidated
p 1 This latter came to Rs. 1,110. After considerable negotiation in which
ATa ■ r' ,;i f 4 OI | V r re ^" e rn °ra] and financial support from the American Mission and
comnnnST 5 ’ A ^ Io ;^ merloa “ O'’ Concession hunter, the matter was
se3»l a d f h + e Shaik n- et Dr - Reaso ner go. The case presented
American M’ ^ th ten’ ttrf U , llcdl was official request made by the
American Mission that the Politica Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. should take up the cudgels on behalf
whde infer ^ the -f co “ slde V d was being unjustly treated by the Ruler,
while Amercian prestige and that of a “ white man ” were also at stake.
under the Knwift'ntf 511 * Tf 1 * ^ c £ onsid erable trouble to convince them that
fere in the case nf r . erm . °™ < ; d 0 Part I paragraph 8, he could not inter-
asked that the il™ Am “ Citizen as the United States of America had never
Government Pvffffh ° f £ e , r , natlonals sh °uld be looked after by His Majesty’s
saw fh^RuD^ 6Xten ? his £ ood offiees > and unofficially
undoubtedlv wa^ mai'nl • Te + lme ? q 1 - c ? n F ec .^ on Ur. Reasoner’s case, and
y ms rumental in bringing the matter to a successful close.