Page 421 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Effect of Zubarah dispute on relations, 1949 409

Record of the discussion with Shaikh All bln Abdullah
Al Than!, Ilulor of Qutnr, In which were present Mr. Wilton
and (oxcopt during the discussion ori Zubarah) Abdullah
Durwish, ori the 16th January, 1050.

1, Zubarah.

The Political Agent stated that ho wished for
amity between Bahrain end Qatar and said that this was
impossible us long as the Sheikh of Bahrain was continual­
ly complaining over the Zubarah question, Ho said
that all that the Shaikh of Bahrain «vont.od was the re­
cognition of his private rights and h1s freedom to go
there and for his people to graze their flocks and herds
without 1.t or hindrance. .Shaikh All mode the familiar
Qatar reply that other tribes owned other places in the
past In Arabia, but that circumstr-ncos had changed and
they hod lost their properties. Ho talked about cir­
cumstances during the tine of the Turks and of his own
family having owned property, in Saudi Arabia and lost it.
i He Vsaid that the Shaikh of Bahrein and his followers
wore free to come to Zubarah and bring their animals
for grazing whenever they wanted and he would bo ready
to accord them all courtesies and the honour due to them.
The Political Agent asked him whether tho 1944 Agreement
did not muon that circumstances in Zubarah were to return
to the state in which they vere before 1936, and he made
the other familiar Qatar reply that it only meant that
they were to remain ms they had been before the signing
of tho agreement. Tho Political Agent asked him what
was the necessity for building a fort in Zubarah. he
replied that Bahrain hed built a fort in Howar. He said
that ho had no soldiers there but only his men to look
after-his cattle. Ho saJd, when he was asked whether the
Khalifah had not lived in Zubarah > that if it. could he
established that uny had lived there during the last
60 years, ho could be celled a Her. Ho said that his
men in Zubarah were also there to prevent, smuggling and
unlawful movements. Ho pointed out that n matt r of
that kind could not bo sullied in one meeting, and the
Political /'gent, sold that. it. hud been going on in the
present way for 6 years and that some sot...] ament; must ho
reached. Further discussions followed and no conclusion
was reached.
The Political Agent asked the {Shaikh if the
) Shaikh of Bahrein's people might, come to Zubarah. He
said they could come for grazing, but that it would be
better if he were Informed before hand. Tho Political
Agent told him several times that, if conditions reverted
to those prior to 1936, they would not damage him - he
aa44 there would bo disputes between the bedouin.