"١/١ المجلد I العلاقات الكويتية السعودية" [و‎‎٣‎٦] (٦٠٨/٨٢)

b© exported to Kejd being mentioned* The rate having been fixed,
this special Customs Officer, to start operations* Receipts to be
then collected and handed over to the Shaikh, who would urivately
remit same in the form of a lump sum to Bin Saud, either monthly,
quarterly or annually as Ifce latter wished* The ar angement to be
an entirely private one as between Shaikh Ahmad and Bin Saud, all
official reference to the system being carefully avoided* The
idea being lhat the money weald go as a sort at personal gift from
one Ruler to the other, and not be credited by Bin Saud to his
general revenue*
4 # Should Bin Saud desire to see the accounts at any
/
tiiae*, copies could be sent privately bjs the Shaikh*
5 . The point of keeping the whole thing a strictly
private and personal ar angoment, added Mull© Salih, was the
Shaikh’s fear lest the Arab world, think that Kuwait was paying
tribute or "Jezsata" Tax to Bin Baud* Xf once such an idea got
abroad, then all would be spoilt*
w Pride n said Mull a Salih, was everything in the
world to an Arab, and especially to an ancient ruling house such
as the w As~Subah w was*
The Shaikh would rather die or see his city ruined ,
than have his*honour n sullied in any way, as in the eyes of Arabs
it would be if it was even* thou^it he was paying "Jezzia" Tax to
Bin Baud*
6* When I asked how Bin Baud could insure, that he was ,
getting the ^hol© customs receipts taken, Mulla 3alih replied -
"That is the whole point, the bus!nosr must be rim on " mutual tru &t r •
lines* Both Rulers were hi^i spirited and honourable Arabs, and
if XbhSilbah gave his word to Ibn Saud that he would day straight, j
then the other must and would accept his fellow Ruler’s piloted
word* Arab honour would not require more”*
7. Mulla Salih finally said that it of course would be
open to both or either party to conclude the arrangement any time
they thought fit, for instance Kuwait could not be expected to |
.continue the arrangement, if Ibn Saud was involved in hostilities
with His Majesty’s Government, or if he started blockade restrict** |
ions again etc* etc* j