Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎126v] (254/284)

226
Enclosure in No. 254.
(Confidential.)
(No. 314-S.)
The Honourable the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian (Julf presents his compli
ments to His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London, and has the honour to
transmit to him a copy of a letter No. 313-S of 31st March, 1933, to the Foreign
Secretary to the Government of India, with enclosures, on the subject of the proposed
visit of the Shaikh of Kuwait to England as guest of the Eastern and General Syndicate,
Limited.
British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Consulate-General,
Bushire.
81st March, 1933.
(Confidential.)
British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Consulate-General,
Sir , Bushire, 31st March, 1933.
1 have the honour to report that some time ago Colonel Dickson forwarded
me a letter addressed to him from His Excellency the Shaikh of Kuwait, a copy of
which I enclose, and which explains itself. Later Colonel Dickson informed me that
the form of the invitation had been changed and that a fresh invitation had been
issued in the name of Mr. Janson (a copy of whose letter to Colonel Dickson is
enclosed), one of the Directors of the Syndicate. Presumably, this had been done
to give a slightly less " company flavour to the invitation, but to all intents and
purposes it comes to the same thing. On Colonel Dickson inquiring from the Shaikh
as to the correctness of Mr. Janson's letter. His Excellency confirmed it, and added
that he had thanked Mr. Janson for his invitation, but had informed him that he could
not accept until His Majesty s Government had been consulted, and given their
permission.
2. With regard to His Excellency's letter of loth February, I thought it best to
try and settle the matter informally and so asked Colonel Dickson to take a suitable
opportunity to explain \ erbally to the Shaikh that if he visited England as the guest
of the Syndicate there might be difficulties about treating his visit as official. "This
hint was duly passed on to His Excellency, whose only remark—so Colonel Dickson
informs me—was to the effect that presumably the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. would reply to
his official letter by a similar missive.
3. Both Colonel Dickson and I think it distinctly undesirable that the Shaikh
should visit England as the " guest " of either the Syndicate or Mr. Janson. On the
other hand the days, in my opinion, have definitely gone by, when we can keep the
more important Arab Rulers of the Gulf—so long as they adhere to the terms of
their treaties with us—in leading strings. I think in the "long run we are likely to
get more from them by—whenever possible—letting them make their own choice
with the ensuing consequences. I think it is probable, too, that His Excellencv will
show whatever official reply he receives to the Syndicate. I have had these various
considerations in mind when drafting the reply, which I enclose, to the Shaikh's letter
of 15th February, and which I suggest I be authorised to send. 1 would have preferred
to settle the matter informally as in paragraph 2 above without troubling Government
on the subject. As, however, the Shaikh has insisted on making C£ heavy weather ^
of the question, and on receiving an official reply, one has to'be sent, I therefore
thought it best to submit a draft before replying.
4. I would be grateful for telegraphic approval of the above draft In the
meantime I have instructed Colonel Dickson to inform the Shaikh that an official
reply on the matter will be sent to him in due course. This will keep the matter in
suspension for the present. dnei m
T am sending a copy of this letter to His Majesty's Secretary of State for India
To the Foreign Secretary to the
Government of India,
New Delhi.
I have, &c.,
T. 0. Fowle , Lieutenant-Colonel,
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .