"١/١ المجلد I العلاقات الكويتية السعودية" [و‎‎٢‎٥‎٥] (٦٠٨/٥٢٠)

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your aims, and that your enemies and the deceivers be
defeated always.
Sire, I have carefully gone through what you
have been pleased to say with regard to the establishing
of w Musabalah ,, (permitting trade) between the two countries.
In thanking Your Majesty I value your precious remarks,
which I know are intended to be in the interests of both
parties, and are the outcome of true love and kindness.
With regard to what you say in the matter of
the collecting again by Your Majesty of the duties "Khawa"
which used to be levied in the old days by Ibn Bashid,
Ad Dawish, and Bin Duwaihi: The idea is a good one, and will
not be difficult of enforcement, for the people and tribes
of M-ejd are under Your Majesty’s jurisdiction, and will
certainly not disobey an order that you find to be in their
own interests. Your Majesty is of course far more entitled
to take such duties, than the persons mentioned above were.
With regard to the question that we should raise
our sea customs to the level of yours: Your Majesty
may rest assured that whenever possible, we will always be
eager to do that which pleases you, as well as give your
interests preference over ours.
But Your Majesty cannot be unaware of the present
sad state of our town, and the peculiar geographical po
sition of Kuwait ( in relation to the rest of the Persian
Gulf).
Kuwait to-day cannot bear a heavier burden than
it now carries, both owing to the grave conditions of pover
ty that exist, and also to the general financial depression
prevailing, irnd in passing let me say that I call God to
witness that I have not the slightest suspicion of Your
Majesty’s good intentions, when you make the suggestions
you have, seeing that we are one family and one house.