'File 6/10 IV Air Agreements' [‎16r] (31/556)

No.C/419. Deted ths 5th June, 1947.
From: 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. ,
Kuwait.
To: The Secretary to the
Eon’ble 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 Oylf, Bahrain .
W
SubjectK\mait Air A;-reament ., ,
v) f
\ l y
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to your telegram
No.625 dated the 28th May, 1947 paragraph 3.
2. It seems certain that aircraft of many national
ities will wish to land in Kuwait in the future : the
Iraqi Airways service appears to be enjoying considerable
success; and an Indian service is contemplated. There
seems a possibility that Kuwait might become the starting
point for pilgrimages by air to Mecca. Sooner or later
the countries concerned may designate Kuwait as an airfield
required foz’ international traffic. Should they do so the
obligation to bring the airfield up to International
standards would appear to rest upon hr eat Britain by virt e
of her signature of the Chicago Convention on behalf of
territories under protection. It does not seem that this
obligation could be evaded by allowing our Air Agreement
with the Shaikh to lapse. '
3. Should we not renew the^Air Agreement and
should we manage to divest ourselves of all obligations
under International Air Conventions regarding Kuwait, cl
dangerous vacuum might be left. The Shaikh desires that
an airfield should be established, and might well receive
favourably a proposal from a foreign state or air-line
desiring an airfield under their own control. There is
presumably no necessity to dilate dm the dangers inherent
in such a possibility - the fact that His Majesty’s
Government have concluded in the past exclusive air
Agreements with the Shaikh indicates that they are aware
of them.
4. The problem of bringing the airfield up to the
standard required should not be insuperable if the co
operation of the Kuwait Oil Company Is enlisted; and,
after maintaining for many years an exclusive right to
establish an airfield when no one else wished to do so, it
would seem inadvisable to abandon this right at the present
time.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
^y^olitical Agent,
MB
Major
Kuwait