Page 125 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II

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Affairs without obtaining any satisfaction. The Ministry were also addressed in
writing and action was threatened on or after March 22(40a) but the Ruler demurred
when approached on the subject and asked that his Secretary should be allowed to
write to the head of Middle East Airlines urging him to comply with His Majesty’s
Government’s demands. The date for taking action was postponed to April 9 and
a further communication on the subject was made to the Ruler. On April 7 the
head of Middle East Airlines informed the Political Agent that an application for
permission to fly to Kuwait had been prepared and would be handed to the
Lebanese Foreign Ministry for delivery to His Majesty’s Legation. This led to the
postponement of action but no application was received by His Majesty’s Legation.
Further dates for action were proposed and postponed for one reason or another
and eventually on May 8 His Majesty’s Legation received a note from the Lebanese
Foreign Ministry asking for permission for Middle East Airlines to land at Kuwait
and to convey passengers and goods between the two countries.(‘0<) Permission was
granted for two months only during which the Lebanese Government were invited
to conclude a general Air Agreement with His Majesty’s Government.^05) An
agreement was concluded accordingly in August 1951 and Middle East Airlines
have since been operating regular services betv/ccn Beirut and Kuwait. At the
beginning of 1952 it became necessary to complain of their carrying out a number
of unauthorised charter flights to Kuwait and they promised not to offend further
in this manner.
185. The Ruler in the course of the conversations about Middle East Airlines
called attention to the fact that Iranian Airways were operating without permission.
He was told that there was no objection to this as a bilateral Air Agreement with
Iran was under discussion. His Majesty’s Government had in fact orally informed
the Persian Government that the line might operate to Kuwait, the concession
being made as part of a mutual exchange of operating rights in the territories of the
two parties.(,0ft)
186. In 1948 when Ahmad had been asked to agree to a six months’ extension
of the Civil Air Agreement he had been told in writing that this would not involve
delay in the decision to construct a new airfield (paragraph 180 above). Although
the language in the communication made to him was ambiguous he was under the
impression that His Majesty’s Government had given a definite promised107) His
Majesty’s Government and the Kuwait Oil Company were unable to reach
agreement about the incidence of the expenditure involved in the project
and for this and other reasons no action was taken. The Company eventually
contented themselves with obtaining permission for the construction of a
landing strip at Ahmadi for emergency use onlyT10") Abdullah after his accession
showed no particular enthusiasm for a new airfieldC09) and the position eventually
reached was that it would only be necessary to construct one when the
existing one began to interfere with the development of the town. At
the end of 1951 it was decided to improve the existing airfield without
saying anything to the Ruler on the subject. In 1952 it was expected that town
development would necessitate the construction of a new airfield in two years’
time and the Political Resident was instructed to ascertain whether the Ruler
would be willing to pay for its construction. When approached he made it clear
that he expected that ultimately there would be a new airfield at the site previously-
selected, viz., Mishrif, and that in his opinion it was financially the responsibility
of Her Majesty’s Government to construct it, the Kuwait Government’s I
contribution being to provide the land at a rental of £1,000 a year as previously.(4,°)
Later in the year the Ruler decided to provide a semi-permanent passenger building
at the existing airfield. The local political authorities had proposed that he should
be told that “ under existing circumstances it is out of the question that Her
Majesty’s Government provide the funds for the construction of a new airport ”
but the Political Resident was instructed to make an oral statement to him on these
lines only when he reopened the question.('") During the year the Air Ministry
considered paying for the construction of a new airfield at Kuwait, primarily for
(*”) Beirut to F.O. 13827/79/51 of March 20. 1951 (GA 59/70 of 1951).
W Tel. from Beirut to F.O. 253 of May 8. 1953 (GA 57/29 of 1953).
f40S) Beirut to F.O. Despatch 54 of May 11, 1951 (GA 57/34 of 1951).
/<oi{ Tel. from F.O. to Bahrain. 185 of March 27. 1951 (GA 59/66 of 1951).
(40t) P R. to F.O. 80/55/50 of December 9. 1950 (GA 35/132 of 1950).
f40M F.O. to P.R. GA 35/37 of October 2. 1950.
/*o9\ dd to F O. 80/34/50 of June 10. 1950 (GA 35/55 of 1950).
>4,0 Kuwait to F.O. 42/13/52 of July 7. 1952 (GA 57/31 of 1952).
(4,») F.O. to P.R. GA 57/39 of October 21. 1952.