"١/١ المجلد I العلاقات الكويتية السعودية" [و‎‎١‎٩‎١] (٦٠٨/٣٩٢)

4
i
11 (-C
-circumstances i)e dropped, there might in Sir John
Simon s opinion he advantage in at once dropping such
use as may he possible of this concession to secure an
understanding from King i'bn Saud that he will facilitate
the consideration of the questions arising out of the
blockade,
3. un the other hand, if there can he little
doubt that, as contended by the Sheikh, the Arabic terms
used can only reasonably be interpreted as limiting the
r
correspondence to bad or doubtful claims and also tc
/
claims between the nationals, as distinct from the Gov-
-ernmeets, of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, there would be
a stronger case for taking up the point with King Itn
Saud. In that event, however, Sir John Simon would
suggest that it would be more appropriate and more like-
-ly ^ successful that the Sheikh himself should
pursue this contention direct with Mng Ibn Saud rather
than it should be taken up by kr fiope Gm a t Jedda.
The former course would in Sir John Simon’s opinion,
have several advantages. The Sheikh could speak more
authoritatively than Mr. Hope Gill on this question of
the precise meaning of certain local Arabic terms.
Secondly, it seems fitter that the Sheikh and the King
should themselves settle a misunderstanding as to tfce
significance of letters exchanged between them. Thirdly,
from the tactical point of view , King Ibn Saud appears
from past exprerience far more likely to yield gracefully
in such a matter if approached direct by the Sheikh than
if the question is made the subject of diplomatic ccrres-
-pondence with His Majesty's Government. In addition,
it this suggestion is put tc the Sheikh, the nature of
his reply will go a long way to indicate whether he is in
fact convinced that the words in dispute can rightly only
bear...