"١/١ المجلد I العلاقات الكويتية السعودية" [و‎‎٧‎٦] (٦٠٨/١٦٢)

C onfidential»
D. O.l^o.250-3 of 1932.
British Residency,
Bushire, the 25tn April 1932.
Thanks for your D.O.Uo.53 of 14th ^pril. I agree
very much with your views about the Shaikh, and in some ways
I sympathise with him. I think His Majesty’s Government
have been extraordinarily remiss in trying to implement their
promise to him and tney are trying to shilly-shally over the
date gardens. I have written a I).C. to Parkinson of the
Colonial Office more or less giving the gist of wnat you say,
and expressing the view that it is definitely up to us to do
something about the blockade. I have suggested that we
should press strongly for the commissioners, not so much
because I am very hopeful about any result, but because
it will show I bn Baud that His Majesty's Government regard
the blicka.de as an unfriendly act, and are definitely
interesting themselves in tne matter. Further, if nothing
comes of it, I think we in a very strong position to
press Ibn Saud to agree to the manifest system which is
really the only proper solution of the matter. Anyhow, I
propose to press the matter if i go home tnis summer.
One point more. You mention that the Shaikh
said that if His Majesty’s Government’s only object was to
get him to try and effect a settlement direct with ion Saud
then he was content to let matters rest where they were.
It is not my view that he should try and effect a settlement
direct with Ibn Saud, My view was, however, that he might
have at least mentioned the matter to Ibn Saud, or at any
rate have expatiated meaningly on the losses his merchants
iel H.A.f .Dickson ,C. I.E .,
Kuwait,
were
• • •