"F.85 ملف 82/27/IV نفط قطر" [و‎‎٤‎٨] (٤٢٢/١٠٤)

Oonfidential .
D .0.N o :C/487-10/3
lis
6th May 1934.
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liill you kindly refer to your telegram No;458 dated
^7 the 4th May 1934 about the ^atar Reconnaissance.
2. I appreciated when I sent my telegram No:477 dated
/i the 3rd May 1934 to the Air Officer Commanding, that it was
important that the reconnaissance should take place quickly
after the communication to Bin Sa'ud. But I did not know
that a communication had already been made on the 28th April
(though the second paragraph of Sir Andrew Byan's telegram
No:71 dated the 25th April, a copy of which was received on
April , showed that he contemplated an early commun
ication). Local action was taken immediately on the receipt
of the orders contained in your telegram No:450 dated the
^ 2nd May 1934 (indeed, the telegram came about 20.30 hours in
the evening and the launch left next morning for Qatar at
09.00 hours), and I trust that all will go well.
3. But I venture to hope that you will feel able to
urge upon His Majesty f s Government that, should any such matter
I arise in the tuture, it would be of great help, and possibly
prevent untoward consequences, if local Officers could be given
the opportunity to make their preparations before a communication
like that to the Sa^di Arab Government is delivered. For
I example, the aircraft might have been assembled here, and
arrangements have been made to warn the Shaikh of Qatar,
immediately the communication had been handed to the Sa T udi Arab
I Government. i need not enlarge on the point, but it does seem
/to me