Page 870 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

868

1934

Wednesday 21st [February]

The Shaikh & Abdulla came round in the morning. He stayed a long time in the office & then we went to
the Agency. Yusuf Kanoo had been to see him & said he was on the verge of bankruptcy & if he didn't
get 30,000 rupees at once he would go broke. A very serious business. YK is the chief merchant here
and if he fell many others would too. I should like to help him but we ourselves are very short of ready
money. Discussed some oil matters & the question of Sulman & the court. Stayed on some time at the
agency. The Shaikh has no idea of the real meaning of the oil concession and constantly gets fussed over
points in it which he never will be able to understand. Motored in the afternoon. Played Bridge at the
Skinners. A very Usual tennis party & Bridge in the afternoon. Yusuf Kanoo came to see me in
afternoon. He was very upset & wept copiously. had a very trying interview. I spoke to Ham about the
matter as I knew the Bank was heavily involved. Really it is too trying to have another matter such as this
suddenly sprung on me in addition to all the extra work I have on hand just now. Yusuf Kanoo sent all
his title deeds for mortgages round to me at night. I should like to help him, he has often supported me in
difficult times and he is a big man holding a lot of British decorations & it would be a serious matter if he
went broke, all very trying, besides I like him. The old man was very pathetic.

Thursday 21st [22ndFebruary]

The Shaikh & Abdulla & Sulman came in agai n & we discussed the matter of Yusuf Kanoo & then went
to the Agency. Decided to lend him 20,000 on the security of some mortgages. Had a long talk about
Sulman & the court. He announced that he would return. The Shaikh as usual was very weak about it all
and tried to leave the matter for Abdulla & me to deal with. He is wonderfully good at shelving