Coll 17/30(2) 'Proposed additional outlet to the sea in or near Kuwait territory. Development of port at Um Qasr.' [‎27v] (54/289)

chiefly interested ware the ”ar Office end Air iiiniotry.
Colonel r »ore d , ett waa however, inclined to the view tuht
owiri^ to the uncertainty of the future we ought to hold on to
an *er F,n t said th t if the Tar Oflice and Air Ministry
decided that we should retain control oi the port hs thought the
Admiralty would support such a policy*
under the influence of a hostile po^t?r, the ^hatt-al-Arab would
be denied to ua end Ua asr would be a valuable alternative
supply route. He thought that as we were there we ought to
stay there* The port was unsuitable for a nfcvel base in the
strict aenae, even if it could be converted into one* Me
thought at present it would taXe ships of only about fcift draught
at low weter fnd ol about S»ft at hi tt h water. This would allow
e Inrge cruiser to enter the port; but felt that »e should ue
aost unlikely to require U& ear as even a temporary r^aval base
for there were aiore suitable fseilitiee evaiiable lor ^aval
require ^..ntu elui^her;? in the tree*
the port was not enough swinging room tor ships ai; the deep
water was also narrow.
would have no objection to our -teepin^. the port ourselves» out
he was determined not to let the Iraqis have it and would prefer
us to destroy the works circau* constructed rather than hand Uie
port over to Iraq.
Thrre w&a suae discussion whether the port could be
developed wlthowit including sj&e Eoweiti territory. While
different opinions were expressed on this point, it was cleer
th^t thq port could not be approached without passing tnrough
Foweltl waters*
necessary* as a iir&t step to send a formal ooamuiilcation to the
tr^ni r^t..rr.^nt hljuI the notification referred to aoove, wnicn
APT;i 1 C >; 3 lL aaif thut if Teraia were hostile to us or
vk. c*v LMAN was understood to soy that the trouble off
UK. p’vX said that he thought the Sheikh of Koweit
M. T c { ^ uiiid thfct it was clear th.»t it would be
reply* It was agreed that the Foreign Cflioe and; indie iii^t
should draft a note on tnese lines.
_ • , > *-4 «ir t. u %j V k. 4
been/