Page 419 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Effect of Zubarah dispute on relations, 1949 407

(E 10990/100!|/91) FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W. 1.
CONFIDENTIAL 12th October, 1949

ti
/ H—7 ,
Will you pleuoo refer to your telegram No. ij-16
of the 8th September about Zuburah?
We had a talk with Bolgrave on the 15th 3optomber
and I opoke to him on tlie linco of the Aide Memoire, a copy
of which I enclose. At Belgrave^ request I gave him a
oopy. I also told Bolgrave that it would be very uaoful
If we oould get the Sheikh to stop talking in a vague
manner of hia ''righto" and give us informally some idea
of the real essentials of his cuae and of the practical
facilities which he wants.
Regarding purugraph 2 of your telegram under
reference, I agree that the private or tribal rights are
vague and that wo ahould not yet commit ouraelvea to the
Sheikh of Bahrein ubout their existence, Nevertheless,
some vague righto which might be likened to the rights
which Bodouin, completely unfamiliar with notions of
territorial sovereignty and artificially drawn frontiers,
claim in moving across desert frontiers, seem to havo
existed, and v/o should try to ascertain as dourly as wo
can Just what they amounted to and how fur it is reasonable
to try and seoure their recognition by the Sheikh of Qatar.
. It would be very satisfactory if v/c could achieve a
settlement of the' Zuburah dispute which would satisfy the
Sheikh of Bahrein but conserve the reasonable righto of
the Sheikh of Qatar. The Shaikh of Bahrein has made it
clear that lie claims no extru-torritorial righto and we
must hope that some fuce-uaving device, which ho will be
able to parudo as meeting his claims, v/ill make a
settlement possible.

[frj.) /is-6 fl.

(B.A.B. Burrows)
ioutenant Colonel,
Slr Rupert Hay, K.C.I.E., 0.8.1. ,
Bahrein.