Hasa sections between Iraq and Bahrein. These sections have not yet been reconnoitred on the ground, and the ground reconnaissance of several of the other sections has not yet been completed. Kuwait Section.—Kuwait has been visited by Royal Air Force service aircraft at intervals since 1920, and a landing ground near the town is in existence. In 1920 the Shaikh of Kuwait asked for help in the defence of his territory against the Akhwan. Two aircraft were accordingly despatched to drop leaflets on the Akhwan, warning them that offensive action would be taken against them if they made any attempt to attack the town. This had the desired effect. In 1924, when a Royal Air Force aircraft returning from a flight to Bahrein had made a forced landing some distance away on the Kuwait coastline, the Shaikh lent his own cars and staff to go out to its relief. In the present year (1928), the Shaikh of Kuwait again asked for our assistance against a threatened Akhwan attack, and a flight of aircraft and section of armoured cars were sent to Kuwait. No Akhwan attack, however, was made. Hasa Section.—The reconnaissance of the Hasa coast section has had to be postponed again and again owing to difficulty in obtaining sanction from Ibn Saud. One refuelling ground in the neighbourhood of Ras-as-Safaniyah and two emergency landing grounds are required. In order that our request might be presented in the most favourable light, the opportunity was awaited of the visit of Sir Gilbert Clayton to Ibn Saud in May 1927. In reply to our request to carry out the reconnaissance, Ibn Saud asked for more complete information, and it was explained to him through His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Jeddah that we required to make a reconnaissance, on the ground only, for the purpose of selecting sites for landing grounds, and that aircraft would not use these landing grounds until his agreement had been obtained. Delay ensued, however, in view of the wish expressed by Ibn Saud to send a representative to Hasa to ascertain the local conditions before acceding to our request. His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Jeddah was of the opinion that at this time Ibn Saud was not unfavourably disposed towards the project for an air route; but was actuated by genuine anxiety for the safety of the reconnaissance party in Hasa. Four months later, in September 1927, a reply was received from Ibn Saud to the effect that he could not sanction the reconnaissance owing to the attitude of the Hasa tribes, whose suspicions had been aroused by the establishment of military posts in the southern desert of Iraq. Thereafter, it was the intention that the British Resident, Bushire, should endeavor to obtain permission, and he was instructed to raise the question on the occasion of his projected interview with Ibn Saud in regard to the Akhwan raid on Busaiyah police post in Iraq in November 1927. This interview, however, did not take place. Since that date the Akhwan situation has prevented any further representations being made to Ibn Saud; and no favourable opportunity occurred for the reopening of the subject during the recent conversations in June 1928 between Sir Gilbert Clayton and Ibn Saud. Bahrein.—No flights were made to Bahrein prior to 1924. Early in that year, in view of the interest aroused locally by the purchase of some foreign aircraft by the Persian Government, the British Resident at Bahrein requested that a flight of service aircraft should visit the island for the purpose of “showing the flag.” A Royal Air Force ground reconnaissance party was sent to the island and a landing ground selected, and in May 1924 a flight of Royal Air Force service aircraft flew from Iraq to Bahrein and made several flights over the island. Sheikh Mahommed of Bahrein was flown and the visit of the aircraft met with a most friendly reception. Ibn Saud objected to this flight on the ground that it caused consternation among his subjects. A reply was sent to the effect that the aircraft did not fly over his territory, but along the coastline, that being the most direct route between Kuwait and Bahrein. No further flights over these sections were made until 1927, when the journey was twice flown by civil aircraft of Imperial Airways, Limited. On the first of these occasions a Shaikh Abdul Rahman Qasaibi, who had represented himself as being one of the principal advisers to Ibn Saud, was carried. It transpired later, however, that this Shaikh had formed an exaggerated view of his own position, and that in giving permission for the flight he had acted without authority. On the occasion of the second flight permission was not sought and the aircraft flew a course outside territorial waters. At about this time (August 1927) enquiries were made of Imperial Airways, Limited, with a view to the operation of a fortnightly flight from Bahrein to Basrah for the transport of pearls. Although this project was abandoned, it is an indication of one of the uses which a civil air route down the Arabian shore could serve. Summary.—As regards the sections between Iraq and Bahrein the present position is therefore that one refuelling ground and two emergency landing grounds have still to be selected before this part of the route can be regarded as fully satisfactory; and arrangements have still to be concluded with Ibn
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