Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎127r] (255/284)

227
(Translation.)
F rom His Excellency Shaikh Sir Ahmad al Jabir as-Sabah, K.C.I.E , C.S.I.,
Ruler of Kuwait to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait.
(Confidential.)
(No. 2/824-E.)
After Compliments , Dated the 20th Shauwal, 1351 (15th February, 1933)
With reference to the verbal conversation which I had with Your Excellency
yesterday, Tuesday, regarding the letter which I have received from the President
and Manager of the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, London, in which they
invite me to visit England next summer at the expense of the said Company.
I have not given them any definite reply yet, as it is my intention to approach
Your Excellency beforehand, in order that you may inquire from His Majesty's
Government and let me know their wishes in this respect, for I cannot do such a
thing (accept the invitation) without first obtaining their consent and approval.
Usual Ending.
Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited,
Dear Colonel Dickson , Kuwait, 19th March, 1933.
Some time in December Major Holmes on my behalf, invited His Excellency
the Shaikh of Kuwait to visit England during this summer as the guest of my firm.
Now, however, since being a guest of His Excellency I have asked him to be my
personal guest. I shall—upon my return to London—advise the Colonial Office of
the invitation to His Excellency and so wish to inform you, so that if there be any
official objection you can make it known to me either here or through the Colonial
Office in London.
I may add that His Excellency has expressed to me his keen desire to accept
my invitation and his wish to see England this summer.
Yours, &c.,
E. W. J anson.
Lieutenant-Colonel H. R. P. Dickson,
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Kuwait.
Draft Letter to His Excellency the Shaikh of Kuwait.
After Compliments,
The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait, duly forwarded to me Your Excellency's letter
of the 15th February to him on the subject of an invitation which the Eastern and
General Syndicate, Limited, have extended to you to visit England this summer as
their guest and at their expense. Your Excellency stated in that letter that you had
not given any definite reply pending the result of an inquiry from His Majesty's
Government as to their wishes in the matter, and whether they gave their consent
and approval.
In a further letter Colonel Dickson informed me that he had received a letter from
Mr. Janson, one of the Directors of the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, stating
that the invitation for Your Excellency to visit England had now been changed to an
invitation from Mr. Janson himself, instead of from the Syndicate. To this invitation
—so Colonel Dickson informed me—Your Excellency had given the same reply as
to the invitation from the Company.
I am directed by His Majesty's Government to reply to Your Excellency as
follows :—
While a Ruler of a State often pays short visits to an oil-field, or a factory An East India Company trading post. ,
belonging to a Company for the purposes of inspection, it is unusual for a Ruler to
visit for the purpose of pleasure and change of air a foreign country where the
Company has no works of its own to show him, and to permit that Company, or one
of its members, to pay the expenses of that visit. But if Your Excellency wishes