Provision of dollar currency to Kuwait for development: abolition of quotas and need for letters of recommendation

This file contains correspondence relating to:

• Issue of letters of recommendation to enable the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to purchase surplus stocks of oil drilling equipment from the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO); and some uncertainty about the currency for the payment (1-3, 5, 7, 9)
• Approval of $43,657.50 (US) for 150 air conditioners for the electricity department (4)
• Approval of $37,381 (US) for American Holmes (Earnest Holmes Company) wrecker recovery vehicles (6)
• Abolition of letters of recommendation, and the subsequent effect on imports, including quotes for imports from Japan, Italy, and Switzerland compared with credits opened (8, 10-11)
• Recommendation for the approval of a payment to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for the unloading of two tugs at Abadan (12, 14)
• Supply of dollars for Kuwaiti development, including the position of Kuwait as a dollar-earner within the sterling area, the present arrangements and the possible consequences if a large contract went to an American firm. It includes a meeting between the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the Bank of England, and the Economic Counsellor in the Gulf, M P Reilly (13, 17, 20)
• Request by Anaza Company Kuwait for permission to transfer the equivalent of $262,500 (Canadian) to the account of D and C Williams Press (15)
• Procedure for dealing with applications for letters of recommendation in Kuwait (16)
• Authorisation of the equivalent of $23,143 via John Birch in London for spare parts from the US (18)
• Enquiry from Mr Pelly as to whether he may authorise a credit of £17,500 to Yugoslavia to facilitate a Kuwaiti merchant's deal (21)
• Request from the Sahara Development Company to transfer £5000 to the Lebanese account of Carlos Arida, and a discussion of partnerships of the 'Big Five' outside the sterling area (22)
• Enquiry as to whether the savings and family allowances of Goanese people in Kuwait may be remitted in sterling directly to Goa, and the fact that Goa will not accept payment in rupees (23)