"ملف ١/٦ I الطيران - الخطوط الجوية الإمبراطورية" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٠] (٤١٦/٢٥٤)

opinion, but to disarm it more or less gradually.
( b) The attitude of Ibn Sa* ud and liis advisers towards
all schemes for the overland transport of pilgrims is exceed
ingly cautious. They have gone slow with the one live pro
ject of the kind, that of a motor route from ’Iraq. There
are doubtless many motives for this attitude, one of which,
the fear of alien penetration, would apply with special force
to overland transport by air.
(c) If religious and political difficulties were
overcome, there would remain very considerable practical
difficulties owing to the distance to be covered and the
present lack of all practical facilities. When it was
decided in 1930 to move the Hejaz Air Force from Darin Island
to Jedda, the aeroplanes were brought round via ’Iraq and
Transjordan.
4. If it should be a question of a commercial service from
Kuwait, the special difficulty might arise that it would
constitute pro tanto a breach in Ibn Sa*ud’s consistently
followed policy of trying to starve out Kuwait by the rigorous
enforcement of an embargo on trade between Kuwait and Nejd.
5. I enclose five copies of this despatch and would suggest
that, unless you see objection, copies of the correspondence
should be sent to the Foreign Office, Bushire and the Govern
ment of India.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant.
jSgd.J Andrew Ryan.