Page 837 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Fort. Went over to Agency before breakfast & stayed a long time talking oil, the situation is rather exciting at
the moment. We sent off a long telegram to India Office. The Coy are pressing for a year's extension of their
present licence and are offering money for it, but most of their offer is a loan on future royalties & we meant
cash down without repayment. Office. The Kozaibi called, Abdu Rahman goes to India by air tomorrow. He
showed me some of his best pearls, very lovely ones, but he was gloomy like everyone else, about the pearl
market. Gardened in afternoon, cut a lot of branches off the trees as they are so thick that the garden is all
shaded from sun & seeds won't grow. Tennis in afternoon. The C.R.E. Iraq called, Colonel Chipendall with
Hudson, quite a pleasant man, seemed very grateful for our help in supervising the work on RAF pier. Went
to Agency after tea to see a long telegram from London about oil & stayed about an hour discussing the oil
question. Then came back & played Bridge. The Air Field Marshall is coming down tomorrow from Baghdad
and one of the Lords of the Admiralty is on board the air lines so Lock is going over to see him. Lovely
weather now, quite chilly in the evenings but fine in day time. I like Fowle, the Resident very much, though
his manner is very off hand he is extremely good on work and has a great sense of humour. He treats Loch
like a Clerk - which is rude of course, but poor old Loch is so silly.

Thursday 16th November

A very busy day. At the Fort in the morning & then at the Agency talking about oil matters. They got a very
long telegram from England advising the Shaikh about the Company's offer. I went off from the Agency to
pursue the Shaikh and tell him all about the advice from England. I found he was out hunting on his island so
motored to Budeya with Abdulla bin Jahr. There we found a big dhow belonging to one of the Dawasir Arabs.
Abdulla persuaded them to take us over to the island. There was a good breeze and a calm sea and the trip
was very pleasant. I sat up in the stern with the naufchuda. We drank coffee & he talked about conditions
on the mainland. We landed on the west side of the island & walked across, it was sunny and midday but not
really hot but the men with me, my boy Hamoud & some others got very tired by a five mile walk as set the
pace. The Shaikh was in the little house on the sea shore. I talked with him for about half an hour and then
he sent me back to Budega in his launch & I motored home from there. He was annoyed by the Coy giving
him three days to make up his mind and as usual would make no decision on their offer as a whole. Had
lunch at three o'clock & then Skinner came to see me & stayed for a very long time talking. He produced all
the oil Coy's arguments most of which I have heard before. Then I went to the Agency again & stayed there
till quite late still talking over matters. In the evening we dined with the Skinners, the Agency people were
there. We had a very pleasant party and didn't stay too late! The Russells, their nephew & Hughes to diner.
The nephew is awful, very chee chee. Altogether a very full day. I suggested to Skinner one point which I
think he will take up, that minimum royalty should start from none.

Friday 17th November