"ملف ٧/٦ I مهبط الكويت" [و‎‎٧‎١] (٥٢٤/١٤٦)

2
reluctance fco quote me a figure for the rent he expected to
get irom us in the event of the Koyal Air Force deciding to
lease the Shuwaikh site. He pointed out that he looked
upon himself and Kuwait as part of the British liimpire, and
when it came to the demanding of rent frcm the Boyal Air Force
for an area they mi^it require for the possible defence of
Kuwait, and the Kuwait Oil Company (should the latter get
their concession), he felt faced with a real difficulty. It
was of course up to him to assist, he said, in reducing the
rent he would charge to as moderate a figure as he possibly
could, seeing that the Royal Air Force were part of the armed
forces of His Majesty^ Government etc. etc., but he felt
that if he mentioned any figure at all he might fix on some
thing too high and so be accused of ingratitude, or of trying
to squeeze money out of His Majesty’s Government. This was
the last thing he wanted, and he would, he said, far prefer
that His Majesty’s Government, advi sed by me . should make
him an offer, which would be fair to himself and agreeable
to them. Were he dealing with a commercial concern, he added,
he would know how to get the best for himself, but the Royal
Air Force was a different proposition.
5* On my pointing out the unfairness of placing the
burden of a decision on His Majesty’s Government, the Shaikh
turned to me and asked me to fix myself what I thought a
suitable and fair rental, assuring me that he had such
entire faith in my sense of what was fair, that anything
decided on would be acceptable. I continued however to press
him for some sort of gi- figure, and eventuelly the Shaikh
reluctantly agreed to £.1200/- per annum.
6. The above figure as I said in my telegram, I do
not consider at all excessive, in view of the large and
valuable property involved and in view of the fact that the
Quarantine buildings would be thrown in also. One must
always/