Page 409 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Effect of Zubarah dispute on relations, 1949 397
Confidential,

PERSIAN GULP RESIDENCY,
BAHRAIN,
15th March, 1949.
(163/9/49)
i
k 0 \A-

Please refer to Stewart's semi-official letter
(E 16421/276/91) of the 24th January about the Shaikh
of Bahrain's claims in Zubarah.
2. I y/ould suggest that the last sentence of the
second paragraph of the draft should be amended to read
as follows:
!l I regret, that it is not possible to change
this policy and I must make it clear to Your
Highness that His Majesty's Government are
unwilling to interfere in the internal affairs
of Qatar to the extent of compelling the Ruler
to regognise claims which can only be regarded
as of a private nature. ".
This I think expresses the position accurately and at the
same time avoids any reference to the legality of the
Shaikh's claims.
3. Polly is inclined to doubt whether it is worth' Ihile
administering to the Shaikh the rebuke contained ir/ the last
paragraph of the draft and has pointed out that his attitude,
towardp His Majesty's Government, compared for instance f.
with that of the Shaikh of Kumit, has on the whole been
extremely good. I suspect myself that the Shaikh's lettei
was drafted by Ballantyne, compare my despatch No.103 (19/243)
of the* 1st July, 1948, and all tilings considered, especially
ns the whole reply will bo unpalatable to the Shaikh, I think
it will be better to omit this paragraph. It is intersting
to note that the Shaikh has not addressed us again on the
subject of the seu boundary of his country us threatened in
the offending paragraph of his loiter to the Secretary of State.
4. Subject to the above, I concur to the terms of the
latest draft forwarded with Stowurt's letter under reference.

13.A.B, Burrows, Jisq.,
Foreign Office,
London.