Page 538 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Thursday March 27th

Spent the whole morning at the Customs with D.G. going over things. He leaves on Saturday night.
Discussed a rough programme for the next four years as regards customs expenditure. He has rather
expensive ideas about enlarging the Customs pier, it cant be done while we are working at the sea road to
Muharrak. Drove out in the afternoon and dined at the Jordans. We played pontoon. It rather bores me as I
prefer Bridge a game with some play in it not just a gamble. Rain in the night, The rain this year is very late.

Friday [28 March]
Heavy rain in the morning. Prior came over to talk to me about the affairs of the Darin airmen, the Air Force
of Ibn Saoud. They are Englishmen, ex R.A.F. and one of them, Morris, is the boss. He sent a letter to Prior,
and to the Kozaibis and to the Amir Faisal, Ibn Saoud's son, saying that he could not carry on unless one of
the officers, Hamilton, was dismissed as he was mutinous, always drinking with the men, and refused to obey
him. A very awkward business. They are under no Military law and if things like this happen there is little
they can do. Hamilton came over from Darin with one of the officers and a couple of the men and called on
Prior, knowing nothing about the letter apparently, and made a lot of complaints. Hamilton is a tall dissolute
looking person, about thirty but with gray hair and a dissipated expression. Went to the Bank and to tennis
at the Agency in the afternoon. Heavy rain before lunch and in the early afternoon. Prior has no authority
over the airmen at Darin so it is difficult to know how to act.

Saturday [29 March]