"ملف ٥/٢ VI المنطقة المُحايدة في الكويت" [و‎‎٤‎٣] (٧٠٢/٨٥)

AFFIDAVIT
THE STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TARRANT
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS
Before me f the undersigned a Notary Public in and for Tarrant
County, Texas, on this day personally appeared James B. Brooke of
Breckenridge, Texes, now in Fort Worth, Texas, who upon being sworn
states on oath as fallows:
I have been engaged in the oil business for twenty years.
During World War II I became acquainted with Eszat Mohharaed Caafar, the
aide-de-camp of Hia Highness Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir as-Subah. The ?uler
of Kuwait, Persian Gulfj and later became acquainted with His Highness,
The Ruler. This acquaintance developed into a very close personal
friendship.
^ Through this friendship and my knowledge of the oil business,
che matter of oil concessions was discussed many times by His Highness,
The Ruler and me. As a result of these diocupsions I introduced in
July 1947 representatives of American Independent Oil Company to His
Highness, The Ruler, and this introduction resulted in the successful
conclusion of negotiations for an oil concession. *
In June 1948 Just prior to the final signing of the oil
concession. His Highness, The Ruler, stated that if American Independent
Oil Company was the successful bidder for the concession, the islands
would be a part of the concession.
On Wednesday, November 24, 1948, the affiant arrived in Kuwait,
Persian Gulf and was granted an audience by His Highness, The Ruler,
-In the course of our discussions. His Highness, The Ruler, told me that
Je had officially notified the Political Agent that it was His intention
to specifically include the islands of Kubr.Qaru ana Umm al Meradim in
the concession granted the American Independent Oil company on June 28,
1948. He told me to inform American Independent Oil Company of His
action and that as soon as He received a reply from the British
Government He would write an official letter to the American
Independent Oil Company that American Independent Oil Company could
start work on these islands.
On December 18, 1948 His Highness, The Ruler, called me to
Dasmen Palace, Kuweit, Persian Gulf, and told me to go back to the
United States and Inform American Independent Oil Company that it was
and always had been His intention to include these three Islands in the
American Independent Oil Company Concession,and the only delay was
caused by awaiting a reply from the British Foreign Office. His
Highness. The Ruler, indicated that He expected very little difficulty
in securing the approval of the British Government.
In my many visits to Kuwait and His Highness, The Ruler, on
behalf of the American Independent Oil Company, His Highness, The Ruler,
has always designated Ezzat tlohatmed Gaafar as His Official spokesman
in these negotiations. All statements made to me by Ezzat Mohammed
Gaafar pertaining to these negotiations have been later confirmed by
His Highness, The Ruler, or actual happenings. Ezzat Mohammed Gaafar
was assigned to talk with me on my last visit to Kuwait, which was during
the period of November 24, 1948 to December 16, 1948.
I was informed on December 14. 15, and 16, 1948 by the
aforementioned Ezsat Mohammed Gaafar that the British Political Agent
had made a personal request to His Highness, The Ruler, to grant the