"ملف ٧/٦ I مهبط الكويت" [و‎‎١‎١‎٢] (٥٢٤/٢٢٨)

~ 4 -
that tlie arrangeiHent should be considered a temporary one
amt not extend beyond two years. In other words that the
R.A.F* could leave the question of definitely taking up
the area they had their eye on^open” for the next 2 years
only, but that at the arid of that period they must decide
either (a) to give up all idea of renting the area in
question and cease paying him £.100 a year or
(b) take up the land for good at a rental of f.lEOO
per annum*
He, the ohaiidti, could not allo^ the R.A.F* to go on for
an unlimited period keeping their lien on such valuable
land. This was only fair to himself.
6. At this stage, I thought it best to close the
interview, and promised to convey the gist of our talk,
which I emphasized was made without prejudice, to His
Majesty’s Government through Major Watts and the Political
Resident.
7. Before I left the Shaikh remarked that both
/
matters (a) and (b) above could be conveniently settled
by an exchange of letters with my successor (Major Watts)
to which I agreed.
8. I have no comments to make beyond saying that the
Shaikh’s points seemed to me highly reasonable, and that
in both cases I think the R.A.P. would do well to agree
out of hand with the Shaikh’s conditions.
(yC ■
n Lt.-Colonel,
/^ Political Agent, Kuwait.