"ملف ٧/٦ I مهبط الكويت" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٥] (٥٢٤/٢١٤)

2
advantage of defence accrued to the State.
3. Moreover Bahrain and Kuwait in the matter of landing
grounds are not on all fours. At the former there are two
landing grounds;
(a) On Manamah Island, for use of which the Royal
Air Rorce pay the £.120/- rent referred to by the Shaikh of
Kuwait, and which is now practically a military aerodrome.
Rurther the £.120/- not only covers the use of the aerodrome
but also the site for the Royal Air Rorce base, quarters for
personnel, Rest House, etc. which is situated on Manamah.
(b) On Muharraq Island which is the civil aerodrome
the use of which by the Royal Air Rorce is given free under
the terms of the Civil Air Agreement. At Kuwait there is
only one aerodrome, corresponding to that on Muharraq, and
no base.
4. I am not of opinion therefore that the Shaikh has
any claim to the £.120/- in connection with the Civil Air
Agreement, and I suggest that I be authorised to send him
the attached letter. I have not mentioned in my draft the
arguments contained in paragraph 2 above but the Political
Agent, Kuwait, when presenting the letter might at his
discretion elaborate these en titre persons1. The Shaikh
is not backward in stressing His Majesty’s Government’s
obligations to him and it does no harm, I think, from time
to tire to point out to him the corresponding benefits which
he receives.
5 # ^rom the last paragraph of the Shaikh’s letter it
is quite possible that while relinquishing the request for
the £.120/- rental he may state that he wishes to charge
duty on Royal Air Rorce fuel as is done by the Bahrain otc^te.
If he does so this point can be taken up on its merits.
In connection, however, with a possible future
Royal Air Rorce base at Kuwait,(vide correspondence ending
with Secretary of State for India’s telegram No.1193, dated
the 6th May 1934) for the option on the site of which £.100