Page 136 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II_Neat

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CHAPTER 4

QATAR

I#—General
1. Her Majesty’s Government's relations with Qatar are based on the Treaty
of 1916. When this was signed Sir Percy Cox agreed in writing that three of, its
Articles should be held in abeyance. One of these gave Her Majesty’s Government
the right to appoint a Political Oflicer to Qatar. It was not until August 1949 that
the three Articles were brought into force and a British Political Officer was
appointed with his headquarter at Dohah. In the meanwhile the Political Agent
in Bahrain had been responsible for dealings with the State and the Political Ollicer
still works nominally under his supervision, though during the last few years the
Bahrain Political Agency has often been little more than a channel of
correspondence between the Political Resident and the Political Ollicer so far as
political matters are concerned. Sir Roger Makins when he visited the Persian Gulf
in 1952 recommended that the Political Oflicer should report direct to the Political
Resident,!') and the raising of the status of the post to that of Political Agent in
direct subordination to the Political Resident was approved in principle in 1953.
2. Qatar has a population which probably does not exceed 25,000 and until
1949 was of little importance. Since that year with the rapidly increasing
production of oil it has attracted more attention and efforts have been directed to
ensuring a reasonable standard of administration and the proper disposal of the
large revenue accruing.
3. In the instructions issued in 1953 to the new incumbent of the post of
Political Resident the objectives of Her Majesty’s Government in Qatar are defined
as follows: —
(i) to maintain the existing relationship between Her Majesty’s Government
and the Ruler of Qatar based on treaty and usage;
(ii) to ensure stable conditions for the production of oil;
(iii) to ensure that the revenues accruing to the State are disbursed, or invested,
in a manner consonant with the interests of the United Kingdom;
(iv) to build up the authority and influence of the British advisers and to create
a sound administration in the State;
(v) to determine finally the Qatar-Saudi-Abu Dhabi frontier;
(vi) to create friendly relations between Qatar, the neighbouring British-
Protected States and Saudi Arabia.(*)

II.—Internal Affairs
4. Shaikh Abdullah bin Qasim (Jasim) al Thani became Shaikh of Dohah and
the Turkish Qaim-Maqam there about 1906 long before his father’s death. To what
extent he was able to exercise his authority over his relations and especially over his
elder brother Abdur Rahman at Wakrah is doubtful but on the departure of the
Turks from Dohah early in the First World War he was recognised by His
Majesty’s Government as Ruler and in 1916 a Treaty!’) was concluded with him.
The Al Thani were originally a family of pearl merchants and their wealth before the
grant of an oil concession in 1935 was derived almost entirely from the pearl trade,
the State revenues being very meagre. After the First World War Abdullah was
granted the C.I.E. and a salute of seven guns together with the title of His
Excellency. He was an astute Ruler and obstinate and difficult to deal with.
5. In the Historical Summary of Events for 1907 to 1928 practically the only
references to Qatar subsequent to 1916 concern the State’s relations with Ibn Saud.C)
Between 1928 and 1949 there is little on record in the reports about the State that
is not concerned either with these relations or with the oil concession. There is
mention of a few slave cases and of quarrels between members of the ruling family
m Para 13 (d) at p. 6. Sir R. Makins’ Report.
(’) FO to P.R. Despatch 125 of July 24. 1953 (EA 1053/8 of 1953).
(a) No. 1 III.T.C.
(*) Para. 10 at p. 88. P.G. 13.