Page 137 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II

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9. All has paid a number of visits to Saudi Arabia and has also visited
Bahrain, Kuwait and the Lebanon, but up to the end of 1953 had never been to
fcuropc. His son Ahmad attended Her Majesty’s Coronation in 1952 as his
representative accompanied by Abdullah bin Darwish. The party are reported
not to have created a good impression in London largely on account of Abdullah
bin Darwish s boorishncss.
10. Before the abdication of Abdullah the leading figure in Qatar outside the
ruling family was Salih al Mani through whom much of the Political Agent’s
business with the Ruler was conducted and who was the Ruler’s representative with
the oil companies. Since the abdication another merchant, Abdullah bin Darwish,
has acquired a predominating position. He has amassed great wealth, is extremely
able and exercises great influence over Ali, so much so that he is the virtual ruler
of the peninsula. He has completely eclipsed Salih and in 1953 look over his
position as the Ruler’s representative with the oil companies. He is an unpleasant
and dangerous personality but up to dale has taken care to keep on the good side
of the British political authorities.
11. So far as internal afTairs arc concerned Ali since his accession has been
chiefly troubled with the misbehaviour of some of his relatives and the constant
demand of members of the ruling family for increased allowances. The
misbehaviour has not been of a very serious nature, though on once occasion in
1952 a frigate had to be sent to Dohah to support Ali should need arise, and lately
with his strong and well-armed police he has been able to lake a firmer line with
offending Shaikhs. The question of allowances both for Ali himself and for his
relatives has caused much concern to the political authorities. In 1950 when the
revenue from oil did not amount to more than about £500,000 it was arranged that
one-fourth of it should be retained by AIi.(") At the same time about one-twelfth
of the revenue was devoted to allowances for other members of the ruling familyC3)
on the basis of the practice at Bahrain where one-third of the oil revenue is set aside
for the Ruler and his family. As the oil revenue increased (it amounted to about
£4J millions in 1953) the Ruler’s privy purse increased automatically, but the
allowances of the members of his family did not, as they had been fixed at so much
per head. This led to constant demands for more to which the Ruler acceded.
Attempts were made to persuade him to agree to a limitation both of his own privy
purse and of his family’s allowances and finally in August 1952 the Political
Resident wrote to him asking him not to make any increase in the total allowances
of himself and his family except after prior consultation with the Political
Resident.!13) He replied undertaking to send a modified list of allowances for his
famiiy for the Political Resident’s views and comments, which he said he would hold
himself unable to dispense with, but expressing his inability to make do with less
than a quarter share of the oil revenues for himself,!") and shortly afterwards
forwarded the modified list of family allowances for the Political Resident’s
comments. The latter approved the list on the understanding that the amount
involved, viz., Rs. 387,000 per month, would not be increased in future even though
there might be an increase in the revenue from oil. He also indicated that he might
again be addressing him on the subject of his privy purse. Ali replied that the
question of increases in his family’s allowances must depend upon circumstances and
that he had already said all there was to be said on the subject of his privy purse.C5)
No further approach was made to him on the latter subject partly from fear of
driving him into the arms of the Saudis, and early in 1953 the Political Resident
agreed to an increase of Rs. 6,000 a month in the family’s allowances to meet the
needs of a few persons who had been left out of the original list.(,c) It may be noted
that the family have been claiming throughout that one-fourth of the whole oil
revenue should be distributed amongst them.
12 Great difficulty was experienced in finding a suitable candidate for the
Dost of Adviser in Qatar but eventually Group Captain P. L. Plant was selected.
He took over his duties in February 1950 and the Ruler in due course signed an
agreement with him undertaking to employ him as Adviser for five years.!'7) By the
r"l PR to F.O. 88/22/50 of April 10. 1950 (EA 1533/10 of 1950).
P R toFO 1944/13 of December 13. 1951 (EA 1943/3 of 1951).
LI or o FO 1945/37/52 of August 27. 1952 (EA 1945/6 of 1952).
LI or o FO 1945/56/52 of October 23. 1952 (EA 1945/7 of 1952).
LI pR o FO 1946/7/53 of Jan. 22. 1953 (EA 1944/4 of 1953).
L\ Sr o FO 946/12/53 of February 6. 1953 (EA 1944/6 of 1953).
L] rr^Sf O.' 1042/11 of May 30. 1951 (EA 1058/1 of 1951).