Page 138 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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Three lines emerged, viz.: (1) the oil concession boundary; (2) a rough line laid
down by His Majesty’s Government as the line beyond which they would not be
prepared to protect or recognise the authority of the Ruler; and (3) the boundary of
Saudi Arabia, which was described as the Blue Line of the Anglq-Turkish
Convention of I9I3(J;) or an agreed modification of it. (1) is shown on the map1
attached to the oil concession of 1935 and, according to the oil company, was shown
to the geologist by the Ruler himself on the ground as his boundary^3*) The Ruler
confirmed to the Political Resident that this was his southern boundary and stated
that beyond it a neutral zone between Qatar and Abu Dhabi extended along
the coast and some miles inland from Khor al Odaid to Sabkhat Matti, but that
this zone was not recognised by Ibn Saud, who took revenue from it.(3') (2) is “ a
line drawn from a point at the head of Dohat-as-Salwa Bay passing South of
Salwa and of Sakak to the const immediately north of the Khor-al-Odaid inlet.’V*)
This line has not been communicated to the Ruler. The area between (2) and (3)
was then regarded as a no-man’s land subject to British influence.
22. In the negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Government about their
south-eastern boundary before the last war (Chapter 5, paragraph 95). they claimed
the Jabal Nakhsh as being included in Saudi Arabia. They at first based thejr
claim on on alleged agreement with Abdullah before the 1916 Treaty but
subsequently admitted that no such agreement existed. It is, however, believed
that in J934 Abdullah came to some secret agreement with Ibn Saud about his
boundary through an emissary called Muhammad bin Nasir. Abdullah himself ■
stated that he had replied through the emissary that his boundary extended 16
and included Al Mashabiyah.C)
23. In 1949 the Saudis claimed a boundary bearing due east from a point
on the coast of the Gulf of Salwa at latitude 24° 56' N. as far as longitude 51° E.
and thence in a straight line to the coast at latitude 24° 48' N., leaving Amirah
to Saudi Arabia (Chapter 5, Appendix H). At the Damman Conference in 1952 i
the Ruler of Qatar claimed that his boundary ran through the following places:—r
Ghar al Biiraid, Al Mashabiyah, Al Khuwaimat, Qarn abu Wali, Jau al Salamah;
Sauda Nathila, Iqlat Manasir, Khufus, Maharaf. The first-named place is on the
western coast of the peninsula four miles north of Salwah and the last named at
the head of the Khor al Odaid. This boundary is described in detail and discussed
in a note prepared about the same time by the Political Officer, Qatar.C*)
24. No authoritative pronouncement has ever been made about the exact
position of the boundary between Qatar and Abu Dhabi and it would clearly be
otiose to make one until the boundary dispute with the Saudis has been settled.
In 1951 the Political Resident suggested that, if it was found necessary to give an
opinion on the subject during the course of the negotiation with the Saudis, it
should be claimed that the Khor al Odaid belongs to Abu Dhabi and the country
to the north of it to Qatar.!31) It may be noted Abu Dhabi claims Ummat Hul near
Wakrah as his boundary.!1’) This claim was not approved by the Government of
India in 1895 but the correspondence on the subject is not traceable.

IV.—Oil
I
25. In 1923 the Eastern and General Syndicate (Major Holmes) sought the
permission of the Political Resident to approach the Ruler of Qatar for an oil
concession. Permission was not granted as His Majesty’s Government considered
that the Anglo-Persian Oil Company had a prior claim.C*) In 1926 the latter
company, with His Majesty’s Government’s permission, sent a reconnaissance
party to Qatar which obtained from the Ruler an undertaking that he would not
grant a concession to any other party for 18 months. Nothing further transpired ,
(”) No. 5 VI. T.C. !
(J*) I.O. toF.O. P.Z. 271/35 of January 14. 1935 (E 324/269/91 of 1935).
(**) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 2300/34 of April 7. 1934 (E 2180/279/91 of 1934).
(30) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 1399/34 of March 6. 1934 (E 1475/81/91 of 1934). !
(31) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 1142/1936 of February 16. 1936 (E 922/152/91 of 1936).
(31) P.R. to F.O. 1081/27/52 of January 12. 1952 (ES 1081/10 of 1952).
(”) P.R. toF.O. 1081/4/18 G of March 28. 1951 (ES 1081/33 of 1951).'
(34) P.R. to F.O. 82/27 of May 18. 1948 (E 6387/605/91 of 1948).
(3i) C.O. to F.O. 98116/32 of July 4. 1932 (E 3372/3372/91 of 1952).