Page 336 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

324 Records of Bahrain

Ext.979/43. Extract iFrom Intelligence) Summary of tho Political
A/zont, Bahrain, for tho period 1st to l'jth Cctobcr.l9&2

No, 19 of 1942. SECRET

211. Drilling on Hawar IoJond.
In October 1941 tho Bahrain Potroleum Company
were given permission to drill holes on the main Hawar
Island in order to obtain information of the geological
structure there, The Bahrain Government were
particularly pleased at the inclusion of this item in
the Company's drilling programme both because it afford*
ed further evidence of the British Government's
acceptance of their claim to sovereignty over the
Hawar Islands, and because they hoped thereby to secure
a water supply on the main island, At the beginning
of Cctober the Company informed the Bahrain Government
of their intention to start drilling operations
immediately after the end of Ramadhan. Since the
institution of drilling operations so near to his
territory would undoubtedly have incensed the Shaikh
of Qatar to an inordinate degree, and would hove
prompted many awkward questions at u time when awkward
questions are particularly unwelcome (the Qatar Oil
Company's drilling equipment is in the process of
being loaded for shipment to Indiu) the Bahrain
Petroleum Company were asked to postpone indefinitely
their drilling programme on and near the Hawar Islands.
The explanation should The Company readily agreed to the postponement asked
be that, in view of the for, and it only remains now to devise an oxplunation
world-wide shortage of acceptable to the Shaikh of Bahndn for the deferment
drilling equipment, NO of a project in which he takes so keen a personal
exploratory drilling interest.
is permissible in present
circumstances.
(Intld) E.iV.K.L.(umby).

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