'File 6/7 I Kuwait landing ground' [‎87r] (178/524)

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like, and it is of course generally accepted that the
strategic- importance of Koweit is potentially very great.
On the other hand, the possibility of development which
would necessitate the use of such a site is remote: it may
well be that we should never have to use it at all, and in
any event it is unlikely that it will be necessary to use
it for many years to come. In those circumstances you not
unnaturally see objection to paying so sue stuntiel a sum
as £1,200 a year (or even half that amount) for a site of
which you would be making no use. It might conceivably be
possible for Dickson, if Fowls agreed, to take the line
with the Sheikh that, as he was aware, we were merely
anxious to secure area (a) as an insurance area in view
ox the terms of tne Koweit Oil Company’s concession and
the possibility of difficulty later if we do not take
the necessary precautions now, that, on the other hand,
there would be no unestion of our using this area, so far
as we could at tne moment judge, for many years to come;
that in these circumstances, while much appreciating the
generous offer which had been made by the sheikh, we were
reluctant to incur expenditure on the scale suggested; but
that His Excellency might be prepared to cOiisidjr
recognising the site in question as one reserved oy us for
air facilities within the terms of the Government