Page 147 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953
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58. In 1951 the Ruler was asked to agree to a revision of the jurisdictional
arrangements to bring them into line with those prevailing in Bahrain He
accordingly agreed in writing that Her Majesty should exercise jurisdiction over
all persons in his State except his own subjects and subjects of the other Gulf
Shaikhdoms, Saudi Arabia, Muscat and the Yemen (Appendix D (ii)). At the
same time he confirmed that persons, who would otherwise be under his
jurisdiction, in the regular service of British subjects would be subject to Her
Majesty’s jurisdiction. There was some discussion with him about this
arrangement and it was agreed that it should not apply to persons in the employ
of Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited.f3) A new Ordcr-in-Council was
issued in 1953 giving effect amongst other things to these changes in jurisdiction.
59. The Ruler has issued a Passport Law (paragraph 75 below) and Traffic
Regulations. He has been asked to amend the latter before they are applied to
persons subject to the Order-in-Council by a Queen’s Regulation. Municipal Bye-
Laws made by the Dohah Municipality have been applied by a Queen’s
Regulation.f4) Regulations have also been issued under the Orders-in-Council
regarding the appointment of Special Police Officers,(0i) Passport Control,
Dangerous Drugs, Alcoholic Drinksf") and Miscellaneous Services.(®7)
(b) Facilities for the Royal Air Force
60. In 1932 the Ruler was asked for aerodrome facilities, primarily for use
in an emergency by Imperial Airways.f8) He demanded a formal guarantee of
protection which His Majesty’s Government were unwilling to give and negotiations
broke down. A landing-ground was marked out by the Royal Air Force near
Dohah by dropping bags of chalk from the air and he was warned that if aircraft
using it were molested he would be called to account.
61. In 1935 in the letter in which the Political Resident gave the Ruler a
guarantee of protection on land (Appendix A) it was pointed out that to enable
His Majesty’s Government to implement the guarantee it was necessary that the
Royal Air Force should be accorded certain facilities. This letter was not formally
acknowledged but it appears that the Ruler accepted the position as he raised no
objection to the construction of a landing ground north of Dohah which was
completed in July.f0) No rent was paid for it. In 1938 the Ruler agreed to exempt
from customs duties fuel imported by the Royal Air Force for storage at Dohah.
The Royal Air Force ceased to maintain the landing ground at Dohah after the
last war. It was used for a time by civil aircraft and has now been abandoned.
The Royal Air Force now make use of the oil company’s and other landing grounds
in Qatar as occasion arises without any specific charter from the Ruler.
(c) Civil Aviation
62. In 1932 the Ruler refused to agree to the construction of a landing ground
which was intended primarily for use in an emergency by Imperial Airways
(paragraph 60 above). Under the 1935 oil concession agreement Petroleum
Development (Qatar) Limited were obliged to obtain the Ruler’s permission on
any occasion on which they desired to use aerial transport within his territories.
This provision was modified in 1946 (paragraph 31 above) and the company
constructed landing-grounds at Dukhan, Umm Sa’id and Dohah for their private
use. In 1949 the Political Resident called attention to the fact that His Majesty s
Government had no control over civil aviation in Qatar and suggested that the
desirability of entering into a civil air agreement with the Ruler should oe
considered.(,0°) It was decided that as there was little prospect of the establishment
of an international airport in Qatar and that as a formal agreement might evolve
His Majesty’s Government in a number of expensive obligations a simple exchang
of letters would suffice. Accordingly in 1951 the Ruler was induced to write
letter to the Political Agent Bahrain asking His Majesty’s Government to assum
(*3) P.R. to F.O. 1642/34 of March 19. 195! (EA 1645/5 of 1951).
C4) No. I of 1952.
(,J) No. 1 of 1948.
(••) Nos. 2. 3 and 4 of 1952.
(,T) No. 1 of 1953.
(*•) I.O. to G. of I. P.Z. 8204/33 of December 22. 1933 (E 7975/156/91 of 1933).
(••) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 5337/35 of August 12. 1935 (E 4889/269/91 of 1935).
(•”) P.R. to F.O. 210/3/49 of April 9. 1949 (W 2392/15/802 of 1949).