Page 182 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

170 Records oj Bahrain

BRITISH RESIDENCY,
CONFIDFHTT AL. BAHRAIN.
(155/48/50) 18th August, 1950.

I am sorry for failing to reply to your letter No.
C/H-410 of the 2nd August before this, I put it uside
while I was getting correspondence for the bag ready over
the week-end and have not boon able to get round to it
since then.
2. 1 entirely agree that the matter of the oil company

having agreed to a customd duty of 5,625/5 on alcohol in
^atar should be taken up with the Shaikh and/or (according
to your discretion) the adviser on two grounds, I think,
vi z:
(1) Disregard of the provisions of the Treaty of 1916.
(2) Direct dealing by the Shaikh with the company

on a political matter. (This to some extent is the company's
fault, of course, and it 13 true that while they are speci­
fically bound by the Political Agreement to conduct their
dealings with the Shaikh through ll.B.D's representative >
there is nothing which similarly binds the Shaikh, But as
ii
: the breach of the Political Agreement is perhaps more often
i • occasioned by the Shaikh than by the company, I am certain
we should discourage him from dealing direct with them. At

■ the same time, you should inform the company that you are
i\
taking the matter up, an-* the reasons for your doing so.)
i

R.McC. And rev/, Esq.,
Political Agent,
Bahrain.