Page 285 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

Claim by Ruler of Qatar 273
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evidence v/ith the least possible cblay, anc^if I can receive
orders on this reference before my departure for Dohah on
the 29th May 1938 I would take the opportunity of impressing
upon him verbally the necessity for speed. Meanwhile it may
perhaps be desirable to remind him that the Bahrain Govern­

ment are in point of fact in occupation of the Islands and
that His Majesty's Government would not be prepared to pro­
hibit or restrict that occupation unless and until a con­
trary claim were proved and accepted. While therefore his
claim is under consideration he must ensure that his sub­
jects do nothing which might lead to hostilities v/ith the
Bahrain subjects now in Hawar.
5. These suggestions v/ill I think be in consonance v/ith

the accepted position that Bahrain possesses a prima facie
title to the Hawar Islands, but that any contrary claim
raised must be decided on its merits. It remains for con­
sideration whether at this stage it is necessary to inform
the Bahrain Government officially (I have done s2> unofficial­
ly) that the Shaikh of Qatar has raised a claim to Hawar,

or to call on them to prepare a formal statement of their
claim in rebuttal. Personally I incline to the view that
it is not at present necessary to call on the Shaikh of
Bahrain to prepare a statement of claim with evidence in
i support, a3 it remains to be seen whether the Shaikh of
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Qatar can in fact produce any evidence in support of his
claim other than a mere reference to geographical location,
which presumably will not by itself serve to contest the
Bahrain claim supported as it is, by physical occupation.
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