Page 778 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Court. Shaikh Sulman did not come. An RAF man came round to talk about rolling the aerodrome and building a pier
for the RAF. We agreed to deal with the tenders. It is a good thing as it will provide some work for people. Slept
after lunch & then went to Sakhrir to see the Shaikh. Sulman was there, we explained all about our conversation with
Holmes about the oil matter and the Shaikh seemed to approve of what we had done & said. He had seen Holmes
who went out in the morning. He & Sulman had a bit of an argument as it appears that Sulman wants a holiday from
the Court like he had last year but his father would not allow it which I thought rather hard on him. Dined at
Mespers, the Hakkens were there, we played Bridge at which the Hakkens seemed bored. Nice day, quite cool, a
shamaal blowing. The oil Coy's offer now is for 2½ lacs for the additional area.

Sunday 7th [May]

Fort - Court - Skinner & Holmes came to see me after lunch to talk about oil, afterwards we went across to Muharraq
as I wanted to see how they are getting on with the work on the Muharraq end of the sea wall, it seemed to be
coming on quite well and will be a great convenience when it is done. We dined with the Holmes, the Russells were
there, played Bridge. Holmes & Skinner are on very bad terms at present. Holmes is very rude to Skinner at times
and talks a lot about what he has done, altogether rather disagreeable.

Monday 8th [May]

Court. Had tea with the D Gs & met one Father John a Spanish priest from Basrah, quite a pleasant old party, it was a
hot day & he was very thickly dressed in a flannel shirt & black robes, he constantly remarked on the heat & mopped
his face and said "I am so wet" and he was too. Afterwards we went out for a drive in the car.

Tuesday 9th May

Biladya meeting, not very interesting. We spoke about bad coins & they decided to hold a special meeting to discuss
the matter. In the afternoon Burnett, the Air Vice Marshall & OC Iraq arrived. We knew him when he was an Air
Commodore & used to come down here some years ago, he is a pleasant man & we always liked him. M was not well
& didnt get up until the evening. The Holmes came to dinner & afterwards we sat on the veranda. Burnett went out
to the oil camp in the afternoon. He seemed to show no interest in the matter of aerodromes, as he said it was a
matter for experts to decide.