Page 172 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

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160 Records oj Bahrain
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npparontly still.tiro dabbling in politics, I admit
thnt it Js very difficult indeed Tor anyone to ovoid
listening to the Shaikh once lie- starts talking about
Zubarah, but at the same time active interference by
the Oil Company 'in such question makes our position
'rV
exceedingly difficult.
* %t
3. You will observe from the Shaikh's reply to my l
letter that he is really hoingenuous, i.e. , ho seems •
to imply clearly to P.C.L. that his action against them
is because of the Zubarah issue while he(tolls an en­ .•
tirely different story in his letter to me.
4. . I think v/e should make.* every effort to keep the
Zubarah and the Sit rail question separate, firstly
because in the ogreement for the lease of the Sitrah
pier by P.C.I.. it is providedthr t any dispute with regard
to the Interpretation of the agreement will le-referred
to the Political Agent, whose decision will be final and
bindinr; on both parties - we should insist that the pro­
visions of this ogreement be honoured without reference to
Zubarah -'and secondly if wo allow our hand to he forced

now by action against P.C.L., we will not only have
foresaken principle at the threat of force, hut the result
will bo that.whenever the Shaikh wauls anything out of us
in future, he will resort to similar measures of a quasi
forceful naturo - against P.C.J.. or some other of our in­
terests .
5. I havo confirmed from I.ermitte that his Company hove
• •
given and are prepared to reiterate an undertaking thnt none
other than the 'Company's men' will be convoyed by the
Zekrit/Sitroh routo. I propose tborofora to write to tho
Shaikh v/ith reference to his letter stating that they will .*•
'reiterate ...