Page 282 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953
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APPENDICES TO CHAPTER 4, QATAR
APPENDIX A
(Paragraphs 6 and 61)
Letter, dated May 11 1935, from the Political Resident, Persian Gulf, to the Ruler
of Qatar on the subject of the protection to be extended to his territory by
His Majesty’s Government
With reference to your letter No. 8/54 dated the 18th April, 1935
(14th Muharram, 1354), on the subject of the protection which His Majesty’s
Government are prepared to extend to you on land. In this letter you enquired
what measures Government intend to take with reference to this protection.
2. I am instructed by His Majesty’s Government to reply to you as
follows: —
(a) Protection will be afforded you on the condition, which I have already
explained to you verbally, that you give the oil concession about which the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company have been negotiating to that company.
(b) The protection from His Majesty’s Government, as already explained to
you verbally, will be external, i.e., against serious and unprovoked attacks which
may be made on your territory from outside your frontier. This protection, as I
explained to you verbally on my last visit, and with which you agreed, naturally
refers to serious incursions, and not to small raids. In this connexion, therefore,
His Majesty’s Government naturally expect you to take all reasonable steps for
your own defence and for maintaining order within your own frontier.
(c) With regard to the methods with which His Majesty’s Government propose
to assist you. They propose to carry out this object through the Royal Air Force.
(d) You will, of course, understand that, in order that in case of emergency
the aircraft should be able to come to your assistance as soon as possible and be
able to take action swiftly and effectively when they have arrived, it is necessary
that the Royal Air Force should have certain facilities in your territory. These
facilities should be as follows: Freedom to use wireless telegraphy when necessary,
since, as you will realise, the essence of defence by aircraft is speedy communication.
Some landing grounds will also be necessary as well as arrangements for storing
petrol and other requirements necessary in order that the aircraft may take effective
action. Royal Air Force aircraft and officers will also require to visit Qatar from
time to time whenever the Air Officer Commanding thinks suitable in order to
inspect the Royal Air Force defensive arrangements, and in order to get information
in collaboration with you which will be necessary for them in making their plans
for your defence.
APPENDIX B
(Paragraphs 6 and 56)
Letter, dated May 11 1935, from the Political Resident to Shaikh Abdullah agreeing
that he should exercise jurisdiction over subjects of Kuwait, Bahrain and the
Trucial Coast, recognising Hamad as his successor and undertaking to give
him full support in any difficulties arising from the presence of the oil company
With reference to your letter No. 7/54, dated the 18th April, 1935 (the
14th Muharram, 1354), which you gave me on my last visit, and our conversations
on my present visit, I am authorised by His Majesty’s Government to address you
as follows: —
2. In your letter you agreed that disputes between British subjects, British-
protected persons and the subjects of non-Moslem foreign Powers should be settled
by the nearest officer of the High British Government, i.e., the Political Agent,
Bahrein, or his representative.
3. You also agreed to my suggestion that disputes between British subjects
and the subjects of non-Moslem foreign Powers and your subjects should be dealt