Page 1178 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1940

Office. Didn't got to the Biladya meeting but went round to see Sh Abdulla there after the meeting.
Discussed oil & the new agreement & especially the question of our right of the Hawar Group of Islands
which the Shaikhs fear the Agency will not allow. I think myself it is quite incontestible. Went over to Hedd
& arranged about having a dispensary there, the building it is to be in will need some repairs etc. Went to
the cinema in the evening, quite a good show.

Friday 24th April

Went out to the Jebel with the Morris's to eat waffles which I liked very much though when I had eat them
once before I didn't care for them at all. They made them in an elaborate electric cooker & we ate them
with jam or syrup. The Steeles were also at the party. Some delay over lunch as the lights all went out for

half an hour. We then drove along the Sakhrir road & sat reading awhile in the car & then went to the
Shaikh's where I talked oil with the Shaikh, Abdulla & Sulman for two solid hours. However we came to
some decisions. Drove home & went round to the Skinners who were entertaining the people who had
been playing in a golf competition. In the evening we had a dinner party - Hakkems, Radstroms & Steeles.
Sat outside after dinner. Holmes came round after dinner to see me privately, but got tired of waiting &
went off. Loch was out at the camp conducting an enquiry about the rows. The Shaikh was very dull over
the oil negotiations & left it to Abdulla & myself.

Saturday 25th April

Fort, Court. Very busy morning. DG came to see me again complaining that his new customs house is not
big enough. He irritates me a lot.

Bridge drive at the Jebel, first had dinner with the Phillips. The Bridge was rather dull, don't care for
organised Bridge. The bad hats from the oil coy went off on the up boat to England via Kuwait, one of them
made a bit of a disturbance last night but was firmly dealt with by my special constables who were, iam
sure, itching to use their powers.