Page 807 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Very busy morning. Fort, office, police & customs. Drafted some important letters. Went to see the Shaikh
at the Palace to talk oil. He was very disappointed at Holmes Company having withdrawn their offer for the
additional area, he gave me orders to write a letter about that and about the question of "half the island".
He has always assumed that 100,000 acres was half but actually the rest is only about 30,000 acres. Talked
also about the new stamps, he was very disappointed as he expected his own head on them, not George's.
However he agreed, with complete lack of enthusiasm, to my sending a set to the King & a letter from him.
He was disappointed and angry about the oil. Motored in evening & then went in to Mespers.

Wednesday 16th [August]

Fort. The Shaikh sent for me & I went up to the Palace & found him & Abdulla. They told me, very privately,
d
that they understood, through Moh Gatin, that Holmes was still open to negociate. The Shaikh wanted to
go at once to the Agency & talk to Gastrell, but Abdulla was against this. Decided to send for Holmes for a
talk & ask Gastrell, as agreed, to come too with interpreter and stenographer. It is all very difficult &
complicated as the Shaikh should not have had any communication with Holmes either directly or indirectly,
but I do not intend to let on about this as after all though it would make the Agency very angry I am
employed by the Shaikh not by them. Abdulla was very sensible about it all. Had a long talk with G about it
all on the 'phone. Tennis & Bridge, very hot damp day, really too hot for tennis, however in June one expects
this weather. Wrote to Holmes & Gastrell inviting them to confer with the Shaikh on Saturday morning.
James went to bathe. Holmes stayed on to dinner but we avoided talk about oil. Gastrell suggested mixed
bathing after dining with him tomorrow; we did not smile on it, he has a mania for these parties but I dont
care for them & have no intention of joining. Mrs Russell & Mrs Steele love it. M sent pearl to Pack who is
getting it made up in Paris. This oil business is getting really exciting.

Thursday 17th [August]

Fort. Customs. Police Station. Sent one of the silugi puppies to Holmes to look after as it is very thin. He is
so good with dogs. Long talks on phone about oil. Measured area of territorial water & find it is 188000
acres so all other figures are incorrect. Lovely cool day, a shamaal blowing. Motored to Rafaa hills, the
country looked so pretty all misty in the sunset. James went to bathe in Shaikha Ayesha's garden in their
bathing pool with the Shaikhs two little grandchildren. Drafted letter to the King about stamps. Dinner at
Agency, a mixed lot & rather dull, but we played Bridge. Lovely day, like a hot autumn day at home. Air mail
arrived, letter from home about Mum. Wrote a lot of letters.

Friday 18th August 1933

Went down bazaar. Did a little sketch while sitting in the silk shop, a bit of the bazaar with shops & lanes
going off in distance, might make quite an interesting picture. Cool day. Was in garden playing with the
puppies for some time & got a bit hot. We sent one to Van Peussem. Agency in afternoon, some sailed so
tennis was very poor. Gastrell asked me to go into the office as we were leaving & showed me a wire from