ملف رقم ١٨٥٥ لسنة ١٩٠٤، جزء ٤، "الكويت:- قروض للشيخ." [و‎‎٧‎٩] (٢٤٢/١٥٧)

From Viceroy, 22nd February 1909.
Foreign Secret. Koweit. Sheikh has applied to Political Agent for loan
of Rs. 2,00,000, free of interest, to be repaid in two yearly instalments.
Sheikh has been making large purchases of land, and explains that his need
for ready money is due to large advances made to pearl merchants who
cannot be pressed for immediate repayment, and to fact that his brother,
Sheikh Khazal, has asked for postponement of payment of this year’s
instalment of large loan due to Sheikh Mubarak. Knox suggests that
opportunity might be taken to press settlement of quarantine question and
rent of Agency house. See correspondence sent with weekly letter No. 37 M,
dated 10th September 1908. Cox, who strongly supports application,
considers that loan should be made independently of any political advantages
that might be taken of it. We consider that it is desirable for political
reasons, and to prevent possibility of Sheikh applying for pecuniary
assistance elsewhere, to make required advance free from interest on condition
that it is repaid in two yearly instalments, and that until repayment is made,
Sheikh shall not borrow from other sources. We do not anticipate any
difficulty in procuring repayment. Loan of Rs. 1,00,000 advanced in 1904
was promply repaid. See our Despatch No. 169 (Secret—External), dated
11th September 1904. We agree with Cox that advance should not be made
contingent upon settlement of quarantine or other questions. Amount of
loan can be made available from Treasury balance at Bushire, and as loan is
required by 22nd March, and Imperial Bank of Persia requires early notice
of intention to transfer, we should be glad if sanction could be communicated
by telegraph.