Page 199 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

Bahrain-Qatar seabed, 1951-1960 589

(KA 1272/37) FOKlilGN OVYIQti, G.W.1,
COHKHWNTf Afo 15th December, 1951*

It 1b unfortunate that the Shaikh of Bahrain etill
perslots with hio olalra to tho ovmorship of all the water*
and tho 00a hod area between Bahrain and Qatar,
2, In your letter Ho, 1539/36 of the 28th November to
Cr^noton. you have ouggentod a course which might avoid a
direct olaoh with tho Bhalkh Juat now, ahould he agroe to
your proposal, I approolate that thero are good reasons
why we should not wish to strain our rolatlono with the
Qhalkh at tho procont time ond that on account of tho
lnoroaolng wealth ond importance of Kuwait and Qatar in the,
oil world, tho Chaikh must fool particularly sensitive to4
anything which way detract from hio prootigo ond authority.
Your proponal might be acceptable, theroforo, if the
operations of tho Oil Company only were concornad. Tt is
clear, however, that uoonor or lator tho Qhuikh will have to
be compelled to accept a diviaion of the eoa bod between hia
State and Qatar, Ab the procont expedient would only
postpone tho matter, it would inevitably be brought up again
on some future oooaelon. More over, tho aoaoptanoe or your
proposal might onoourage the Shaikh to think that we ware
withdrawing from our proviouB firm stand, and that we might
bo prepared to consider a modification of the 1947 line.
3. For roaoono which have been stated in previous
correspondence, v/e feel we rauot ineist on tho 1947 line being
recognised by both parties, and the 8halkh has been informed
of this moro than onoe,
4. Tho Shaikh* 0 latter of the 22nd September, has made such
a oatogoriool aosortion to hlu ownership of the whole area,
that I am of tho opinion that it ahould not be allowed to paoB.
I oonoidor, therefore, that we should take this opportunity of
rolteratlng to the Shaikh that Ulu Uajouty'0 Government stand
by tholr doolalon that the 1947 line must bo regarded as the
eaotorn and western boundary of Bahrain and Qatar territory
respectively, Tho laying down of this lino by Ills Majesty's
Government is an obligation deriving from their reoponsibillty
for the foreign relatione of both Bahrain and Qatar. Hie
Majesty's Government cannot, therefore, permit interference by
the Oovernmont of the Bhaikn of Bahruin in the aotivltioa of
persona or associations in aroas outolde tho defined
boundaries of that state.

5 I enoloso a suggested draft of a lettor to tho Ruler, and
shall be glad to have your oommenta on it or, alternatively,
nhould you agree with It I ahould be glad if you would inetruot

/ the

Lieutenant Colonel
Bir Rupert Hay, K ,0,1,18 • 9 0.8,1 • 9
Bahrain,

a