'File 6/7 I Kuwait landing ground' [‎104r] (212/524)

Original on VI/10. (Received under Bushire P.L.540,7.6.34)•
CO RB IT) ENT IAL.
No.539-S of 1934.
British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. & Consulate-G-enl.
Bushire, the 7th June, 1934.
From:- The Hon , ble Lt.-Colonel T.C.Fowle, C.B.P.,
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. ;
To :- His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, the
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , London.
, yj*V' ■
o
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose copy of letter No.
s'
C-199, dated the 29th May 1934, 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, with enclosures, from which it will he seen that the
Shaikh has signed the Civil Air Agreement. This reflects
credit on Colonel Dickson’s persuasive powers as the Shaikh
at first evinced a certain amount of suspicion towards the
Agreement, chiefly I thinkon account of its unavoidably
voluminous nature.
With regard to paragraphs 4-6 of Colonel Dickson’s
letter. The reason why Bahrain in the first place (paragraph
6 of Colonel Dickson’s letter) came to be given £.120/-
per annum, and Kuwait nothing, is I imagine quite simple.
The Shaikh of Bahrain asked for £.120 per annum and the Shaikh
of Kuwait asked for nothing. The reason, too why the
Shaikh of Kuwait gave the use of his landing ground rent-
free, and the Shaikh of Bahrain asked for rent, is I think
not far to seek. Kuwait being part of the mainland in
case of emergency is largely dependent on the Royal Air
Force for protection, and Bahrain being an island is not:
as long as His Majesty’s Sloops are in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. no
force can invade Bahrain from the mainland. In other words
the coming of the Royal Air Force to Kuwait was more in the
interests of the latter than of the former, while in Bahrain
it was the Royal Air Force who chiefly benefited since
Bahrain is an essential link in the strategical route to
India, and no corresponding advantage of