‘File 29/21 - III FOOD SUPPLY RICE’ [‎61r] (121/720)

Translation of letter dated the 23rd Shawwal, 1367 (28.8.48) from
His Excellency the Ruler of Qatar, to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain.
a vial matter - a matter of utmost importance to us in view of the
difficulty we experience in the matter of procuring foodstuffs for
the country as well as for the company operating here and its
employees. We made arrangements to import foodstuffs from remote
countries bearing all the trouble and incurring all the expenses ,
indifferently - all because of our need for these food supplies
in order to meet the requirements of the company and its employees.
imported to Qatar via Bahrain and thanked Your Excellency for your
glorifying attitude. As we required large quantities of foodstuffs
to meet the demands of the company and the public, we arranged
for further quantities of rice and thus we purchased 600 tons from
abroad at high prices which we accepted under pressure of necessity
These we'purchased from Holland. 4000 bags of rice were shipped
from Rotterdam in the name of Qatar on a ship destined for Dubai
from where we arranged for them to be transported from shipside
to Qatar by boats. But to our astonishment, we knew that the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent, Sharjah, interfered with the rice without good
reason and issued orders impounding half of the quantity, without
we knew the reasons which actuated him to interfere and impound
the rice which was shipped from Holland to Qatar: hhile on the
other hand he neglects the question of the baots and the launches
that have been and are still coming from Dubai laden with grains
and provisions for Saddi Arabia which pass through Qatar en route
to Dhahran. We say this with confidence as the last consignment
which arrived from Dubai was consisting of 380 bags of wheat
shipped from Dubai on board the launch of Obaid bin Thani. She
passed through Qatar on the 8th Shawwal, 1367 (13.8.48) on her
w ay to Khubar, the Nakhuda being Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Ajmani.
Before this there were many other launches.
Do you not believe with me, 0 Your Excellency, that it is
surprising enough that the shipment of such foodstuffs from Dubai
should be overlooked and that the rice which belongs to Qatar and
which was exported from Holand for urgent requirement! should be
impounded.
consigned for Qatar by sea route is not within the right of anyone
to impound, especially when it is done so for the sane of a country
from which foodstuffs" export to Saudi Arabia.
I, therefore, request Your Excellency to think over .this
matter and instruct the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent not to interfere with this
rice and to permit the agent there (Shaikh’s agent) to ship it to
Qatar. It is my hope that Your Excellency by your wide comprehen
sion will appreciate pur difficulty in importing this rice and
will look at the situation relating to. our demands. We are
confident that Your Excellency will realise our conditions and that
by your far-sightedness you will percieve that the impounding of
this rice without good reason is a matter which justice does not
warrant and which does not agree with the principle of humanity.
shall remain thankful. We always appreciate Your Excellency's
attitude in all matters.
After Compliments,
i I write this letter to draw Your Excellency's attention to
A few weeks ago we wrote to Your Excellency about the rice
I wonder at such interference and behaviour. Anything
I hope for Your Excellency's assistance - for which I
Usual Ending.