"ملف 10/10‏ I المنطقة الإضافية بالبحرين" [و‎‎٢‎٣] (١٣٦/٤٥)

Hi
D.O. No. /*? % - fs? Adviserate,
Baiirain.
July 22, 1946.
Reference your c/791 of 21st July 1946. I think
that if the whole question of the ownership of the seas
and islands around Baiirain is under consideration, Eis
Highness should be consulted on the matter and given an
opportunity of putting forward his claims. Your letter
was marked "Secret", so I have not discussed the matter
with His Highness.
I am sorry that my para 1 was not clear. This is the
line of the argument. The Khalifah originally ruled in
Q^atar, this fact I think is not in dispute. They had
their chief town at Zubara and Dohah did not exist as a
place of any importance. From Zubara the Khalifah control
led the Q,atar coast opposite to Bahrain and the islands off
the coast. From Zubara they invaded Bahrain and turned out
the Persians; they occupied Bahrain making their first set-
tleiuent at Jaw on the east coast of Bahrain, opposite Q^atar.
At the same time they continued to keep up their town at
Zubara and they controlled the sea and the islands lying
between Bahrain and Qatar. At a later date, when the
Khalifah were in occupation of Bahrain and the Qatar coast
around Zubara the Al-Thani family acquired influence on the
east coast of Qatar and the grandfather of the present Shaikh
of Qatar became Shaikh of Qatar with his headquarters at
Dohah. The Al-Thani family was recognised as the Ruling
Family of Qatar but their rule never extended beyond the
mainland of Qatar and was never exercised over the seas and
islands situated between Qatar and Bahrain, the Khalifah
contend too that it was never even exercised over the whole
of the Qatar peninsular because Zubara, until comparatively
recently belonged to the Khalifah. Therefore it is argued
that the islands and shoals lying between Bahrain and Qatar
belong to Bahrain.
Lieut. Colonal A. C. Galloway, O.B.S., C.I.3.
H. B. M's political Agent, ^ ^
Bahrain.
C onf'dentia!.