ملف 19/243 III (C 95) الزبارة [و‎ب‎‎١‎٢‎٦] (٤٦٢/٢٦٤)

Translation of letter No.^/ISTS dated 23rd September 1944 from
the Political Agent Bahrain to H.H. Shaikh Sir Salman "bin Hamad
al Khalifah, K.^.I.S., Kuler of Bahrain.
After Compliments f
I have the honour to refer to your letter dated 14th September
1944.
2. 1 received your letter under reference with surprise as 1 have
made no promises to you either in regard to the restoration of the
position' to what it was in the past or with regard to the return of arm:
whi^h Your Highness stated had been taken from your subjects some years
aso - ,
3. 1 draw your Highness' attention to the following phrase in the
agreement "The Kuler of Qatar undertakes that Zubara will remain with
out anything being done in it whi^h did not exist in the past", from
v/hir^h it does not aonear that anything is required to be ^hanged whi^h
existed at the time'of the agreement but rather that there should be no
new innovation.
4. During the conversations referred to in your letter under
reference. Your Highness asked me personally whether i would endeavour
to have certain arms returned to you by the. Shaikh of Qatar as you
stated it was customary for su^h restitution to be made on the re
sumption of friendly relations'by Arakftelbes of importance. You
desired, so you said, a symbol from/the Al Khalifah would understand
the extent to whi^h both sgties to the agreement were prepared to g o in
order to ensure that their good intentions were plain to all men.
At the same time, you drew my attention to the Fort at Zubara
whl^h up to the present time is garrisoned by adherents of Shaikh^
Abdullah bin nasim and gave it as your opinion that it would be difficu:
for the Al Khalifah to enter Qatar for their hunting expeditions by way
of Zubara when subject to the scrutiny of the Shaikh of Qatar soldiers.
You felt that it would not be in accordance with the prestige of the
family.
I told yo ur H ighnesg that 1 u nde rstood your feelings and that -
T would use my personal endeavours to arrange for the withdrawal of
the garrison of the Fort at Zubara and for the return of the whole or
some part of the arms to which you had referred, i made no promise^
other than to use my best endeavours to achieve this purpose. 1 still
pronose, when more important affairs permit me the time, to pursue this
object. After Your Highness* very detailed exposition of the situation
on the night of Friday the 15th September and my clear statement of ny
views i am sure there can no longer be any room for misunderstanding.
I trust that the pleasant relations which now exist between this
country and the Sheikhdom of Qatar will continue for more years than
^ r our Highness or 1 care to contemplate and 1 feel sure that v our ^ ^
Highness will, as 1 will, use every endeavour to realise this object .
and strengthen the bonds of friendship and good neighbourliness.
Usual Ending.