'File 5/1 III Kuwait Oil Company' [‎306r] (616/766)

♦Iraq will obtain lier independence, I even go so tax as
to assert that in Kuwait, we possess what is destined to
bee one our leading Haval and Air Base in the Gulf. For
it is evident that a force established at Kuwait will be
able to dominate the Gulf 9 protect our Eastern air route
(both that portion which passes down the Euphrates and
also the portion down the Arabian shore), and last but
not least, will give us a secure ff pi@d a terr© n from
which to threaten Basrah, the Euphrates valley and hejd.
S* Ihe Kuwait "wedge* penetrating deeply as
it does into, and dividing the boundaries of Hejd and ’Iraq
where they meet near the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , will further give
a**
us all important dominating advantage over He jd and f Iraq /
and put us in the position of betag able to strike at the
flank of either State should they ever be at war with
each other, and it is to our advantage to come to the
assistance of one or the other.
6 . i’o my mind the advantages of creating the
future Gibraltar of the Gulf at Kuwait, are so obvious
that I think a form of military occupation of the Prin
cipality is not an improbability in course of time, which
if tactfully arranged with the BuXer by means of suitable
treaty, to include such things as generous subsidy, the
guaranteeing of all his frontiers, tine placing of any
military force in can to meats well away from the town area,
and complete assurance of non-interference in internal
matters, will be welcomed rather than resented, provided
always the matter is approached with tact and diplomacy.
7 . This brings me to paragraph 1 of major
Holmes’ agreement and the safeguarding clauses which I
think should be inserted. The Shuwaikh area and coaling
station as recently leased by us from the Kuler, and given
up when we occupied ’Iraq and thought we were going to stay
there, is of great value because it xjossesses a good deep
water aiid anchorage, a few hundred feet from til© mainland,