Page 134 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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but nothing appears to have happened which called for serious intervention on the
part of the political authorities. No problems arose during the last war, beyond
that of keeping the small population supplied with the necessities of lifp.
6. The negotiations for the oil concession which took place between 1933 and
1935 (paragraph 26 below) did however raise a number of important questions.O
Abdullah refused to grant a concession to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company unless
he was given a promise of protection against aggression by land. This was accorded
in writing, subject by implication to the grant of certain facilities to the Royal Air
Force (Appendix A). In return for a cession of jurisdiction His Majesty’s
Government agreed to recognise his second son Hamad as his heir apparent,
provided he granted an oil concession to the company. They also agreed to grant
him and his successors support in any internal difficulties arising from the presence
of the oil company (Appendix B). Abdullah in his turn agreedf) that the Treaty of
1916 would be binding on his heirs and successors.
7. In 1948 Hamad who had for some years been performing the functions of
Ruler died and Abdullah with the agreement of the other members of the ruling
family and of the notables appointed his eldest son Ali as his successor. In April
1949 His Majesty’s Government at Abdullah’s request agreed to recognise Ali as
his heir apparent. The Political Resident proposed to attach certain conditions to
(his recognition but before negotiations for this purpose could be initiated Abdullah
found himself unable to deal with the demands of his relations for an increased
share of the payments under the oil concession and with an outbreak of
lawlessness, and asked that a British Political Officer should be appointed to Qatar
and that he should be allowed to abdicate in favour of Ali. On August 19 he
signed a letter(7) accepting the entry into force of all the articles of the Treaty of 1916
and on the following day in a letter to the Political Agent Bahrain he announced
his abdication in favour of Ali.O Ali then signed lettersO accepting the Treaty of
1916 and all other treaties and obligations and asking for the appointment of an
Adviser, and the acting Political Resident formally conveyed His Majesty’s
Government’s recognition to him. A landing party from one of His Majesty’s ships
was present on the occasion and remained in Dohah for a few days to stabilise the
situation. Demonstrations by other members of the ruling family were feared but
none in fact occurred. On August 23 a British Political Officer arrived and
established his headquarters at Dohah.

8. Ali was about 56 years old when he succeeded. He had been kept in the
background while his younger brother Hamad was alive and was considered to have
a religious and unwordly disposition. He has a fine presence but a very limited
intelligence and outlook. His accession to power and subsequently to wealth have
given him a great idea of self-importance and he is often difficult to deal with. He
is anxious to see his Stale develop but is extravagant in his private expenditure
though much of this is devoted to gifts to others, particularly to other members of
the ruling family, and he leads a comparatively, simple life himself. A certain
amount of the State business is conducted by his second son Ahmad who is
intelligent and promising but lacking in education. The question of the succession
however may be a difficult one, as it is believed that when Abdullah abdicated he
made Ali write him a letter accepting Khalifah the third son of Hamad as his
successor.(,0) Much will probably depend on how long Ali survives and whether he
pre-deceases his father or not. Although Ali suffers from arthritis in one of his
knees and has become rather stout there appears to be no reason why he should
rtot have a long life. Abdullah lives at Riyan about four miles from Dohah. He
is well over 80 and paralysed on one side but otherwise healthy and in full
possession of his mental faculties. When he abdicated an annual allowance of
Rs. 4,00,000 was fixed for him which has since been raised to Rs. 7,00,000. He
also retained for his personal use all the State funds which then existed. To begin
with he continued to exercise a close control over State affairs but it is believed
•that he does not interfere much now although his influence is always in the
background.
(') I.O. lo F.O. P.Z. 3414/35 of May 24. 1935 (E 3248/269/91 of 1935).
(‘) No. 4 11I.T.C.
(7) No. 5 III.T.C.
(•) P.R. to F.O. Despatch 66 of September 1, 1949 (E 11123/10118/91 of 1949).
(•) No. 6 III.T.C.
(,0) P.R. to F.O. 1944/2 of February 12. 1951 (EA 1943/1 of 1951.)
46639 R 2