'File 5/2 III Kuwait Neutral Zone' [‎205r] (414/779)

Limited, who, as Sheikh Hafiz knew already held a concession
from l ing Ihn Saud for the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia,
that they had a proposal to make which would enable King
Ibn Saud to discharge this debt.
I told Sheikh Hafiz that Petroleum Concessions Limited
(which was the Iraq Petroleum Company in another form) was
a British conpany of the highest standing, although it did
contain certain foreign elements, and that His Majesty’s
Government would certainly view with favour the grant of
any concession to it. Sheikh Hafiz entirely agreed as to
the standing of Petroleum Concessions Limited, which already
held a concession from King Ibn Saud, and confirmed that
1 ing Ibn Saud would prefer to give a concession to a British
company of this character than to an American concern.
I then said that, if Sheikh Hafiz thought that the
King would like to consider the proposals which Petroleum
Concessions Limited wanted to put forward, I thought that
it would be well for him to see Mr. Skliros of that company
in the near future, since it might perhaps then be possible
to come to some preliminary understanding while Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin was still in this country. After some further
discussion. Sheikh Hafiz V/ahba said he would be very glad
if I would arrange for Mr. Skliros to make an early
appointment with him for a preliminary discussion prior to
Sheikh Yusuf Yasin’s return from Scotland at, or about,
ICth July.
I am pursuing the matter on these lines with Mr. Skliros.
(Initialed) G.W.R.
7th July, 1937.