Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎480r] (964/1028)

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A small raid on some Shammar in the Hajarah by Ibn La$ii apparently
did take place, bat this is of little or no political importance, as nothing
further happened. The explanation of this may be found in the report of
a reliable man who left Riyadh on the 21st December, where he said there
had been talk of impending raids for some time. According to him Ibn
Sa’iid recently sent word to Ibn Humaid that, as he would not come and
visit him in Riyadh, he proposed coming to see him at Ghatghat. Ibn
Humaid replied that he would not agree to this either, but that he was will
ing to meet him in the desert if he liked. Eventually it was agreed that a.
meeting should take place at Shauqi, ninety three miles north by west of
Riyadh, and Ibn Humaid had invited Dawish and Ibn Hithlain to attend
as well.
Nothing more is likely to happen until this meeting has taken place,
but whether or not Ibn Sa’ud can induce the Ikhwan to keep the peace after
wards remains to be seen. He will presumably try to persuade them to do
so until the arbitration is over.
Defence of Kuwait.
At the end of February the situation w^as so obscure that to guard
igainst the danger of a possible attack on the town of Kuwait, H. M Ss.
‘‘Emerald’“Lupm” and “Crocus” were ordered to Kuwait, and a land
ing party w r as disembarked and maintained on shore. A temporary air
base was also established, and a flight of aeroplanes and a section (later tem
porarily increased to two sections) of armoured cars ordered to Kuwait.
Meanwhile the organization of the Kuwait forces progressed satis
factorily, and by the beginning of March every man knew his post. Ihere
were certainly over three thousand well armed riflemen m the town, not
counting the garrison of Jahrah, which it was intended to withdraw to
Kuwait on the approach of a large force.
H. M. S “Enterprise” relieved H. M. S. “Emerald ’ in the beginning
of April but it was not until the middle of that month that any reduction
in the number of ships was made, and at least one ship remained m Kuwa t
until the 4th Jline.
The Royal Air Force detachments were finally withdrawn at the end ol
Ma) The Shaikh of Kuwait was allowed to purchase two machine guns and
three Lewis guns, but these did not arrive until after the menace was ov .
Visits.
Sriii” s: ™ 5£ 2- K™ 1 •>» »* «"•*
Ma7he was § on duty in Kuwait as Special Service Officer.
Squadron Leader A. H. Peck, D.S.O, M.C., R A F., visited Kuwait
from the 16th to the 21st February.
Air Vice Sir 03.^0.
SSSSi S n***—. DAO'. M c ■ D1 c
accompa y © r M G D S O visited Kuwait by air on
the S^aSr Jd vS other ^enior^officers of the Royal Air Fore,
durum the existence of the temporary air base. . ,
Mr E S Berry, Administrative Inspector Basrah, arrived by road
on the 31 st'March, a^d returned on the 1st April.