"الملف 38/16 تأثيرات النزاع البحريني-القطري على شركة امتيازات النفط المحدودة" [و‎‎٢‎٥] (٩٢/٤٩)

BAHRAIN RECEIPT.
... Dsitp . l- -
Confidential.
PETROLEUM CONCESSIONS LTD.
PERSONAL &
CONFIDENTIAL
BAHRAIN
PERSIAN GULF.
DO/PCT.1/4732
18th February 1947
My dear Colonel,
EXPORT PERMITS TO QATAR
As you know, I had an interview with H.H. Shaikh
Sulman on the afternoon of the 15th February 1947 .
The visit lasted an hour and a half. I was received
with the utmost friendliness, and H.H. stated that he
would agree to the export of anything from Bahrain,
provided it was clearly understood that these exports
were for the us e of the Company and its employees, and
were not to be diverted by any method whatsoever to
the Q,atar Shaikhs or Qatar is not in the employment
of the Company. I did not touch on articles in transit
to saudi Arabia or for transhipment to Saudi Arabia,
as I think this savours of evasion, and Ihs an un
pleasant aspect. In such cases I think personally it
will be better if the importer pays full Bahrain customs,
and we buy from him and apply in the usual way for an
Export Permit. In other words, I would prefer that the
Conpany should not be directly involved in transactions
in which the object is to divert consignments, in transit
to Saudi Arabia, to Qatar.
2. His Highness also mentioned that he would agree to
the Company buying land in Bahrain.
3. As I anticipated, however, the subject of Zubara
was eventually introduced, and reference made to previous
verbal assurances by me that the Company would not inter
fere in any way with the tombs and mosques there. On
this occasion, however, the word houses’ jalso came up.
As far as I know, there are only a few rei^ants of houses,
but it was not thought appropriate to point this out.
As under the terms of our Concession mosques, graveyards,
private houses or other buildings are protected, there is,
in my view, no harm in the Company putting the assurance
in writing. In any case if anything was to be achieved
and the existing deadlock broken, it was necessary to
take a decision, and I therefore gave His Highness to
understand that I would confirm the assurance he required
• • •