Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎132v] (266/284)

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2. As your first letter is somewhat out of date now I will not reply to it.
3. Reference your second letter—Your news entirely corresponds with what I
was able to get here, though in view of later happenings I am now inclined to believe
that Shaikh Ahmad and party met Bin Saud himself rather than his son baud.
4. The fact that Mohamed Yatim (Holmes's Oonfidential jackal) accompanied
Shaikh Ahmad on his first journey (20th to 23rd February) and again on the second
journey (25th to 27th February) was the most suspicious part of the whole business.
5. If I am right, and the meeting with the King did take place, two things were
certainly discussed :—
(a) Bin Saud's desperate need for money;
(h) Oil questions.
6. Under (a) it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Bin Saud asked for
a loan and in return offered some relief from the blockade. If (h) was discussed, also
with the intention of getting money, the presence of Mohamed Yatim was significant.
7. The following later events, I think, did much to prove the correctness of my
earlier suspicions:—
(a) On 18th March Bin Saud wired to Holmes to come to Jeddah at once if he
wished to be a bidder for Nejd oil concessions;
{b) Holmes, Lombardi (Standard Oil Director) and Mohamed Yatim flew to
Cairo on 19th March;
(c) Holmes and Mohamed Yatim went to Jeddah about 24th March, where thev
still are;
(d) Abdul Latif Bin Abdul Jalil recently returned from Riath and told me that
Bin Saud was absolutely determined to close the Nejd door to Kuwait, even
tighter than it has hitherto been closed and was about to set up a " wire
less " at Haffar al Batin and strengthen his frontier guards. The news
was in the nature of a threat and intended for Shaikh Ahmad's consumption.
It points, I think, to the fact that Shaikh Ahmad refused to supply money
to Bin Saud at the meeting referred to, unless the blockade was declared
entirely off, which made the King decide on showing still less mercy to
Kuwait than heretofore.
8. You heard, no doubt, that last month Bin Saud got £10,000 (or Rs. 10,000)
out of the Shaikh of Qatar and has now asked the people of Hassa to pay a year's
revenue in advance.
P.S. —Salim al Muzaiyin went to Riath and back about the time you mention; he
confirmed all points you mentioned.
18119/33 [No. 136].
No. 263.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to
the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies and, by direction of the Secretary of
State, transmits herewith a copy of correspondence received from His Majesty's
Representative, Jeddah, on the subject of the alleged meeting between Ibn Saud and
the Shaikh of Kuwait.
Foreign Office,
25th May, 1933.
Reference to previous correspondence : Letter to Foreign Office of 12th April, 1933.*
Copies sent to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , Admiralty and Petroleum Department.
* 18119/33 [No. 84] : not printed.