'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎69r] (142/222)

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Three lines emerged, viz.: (1) the oil concession boundary; (2) a rough line laid
down by His Majesty's Government as the line beyond which they would not be
prepared to protect or recognise the authority of the Ruler; and (3) the boundary of
Saudi Arabia, which was described as the Blue Line of the Anglo-Turkish
Convention of 1913( 2 ') or an agreed modification of it. (1) is shown on the map
attached to the oil concession of 1935 and, according to the oil company, was shown
to the geologist by the Ruler himself on the ground as his boundary.( 2S ) The Ruler
confirmed to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. that this was his southern boundary and stated
that beyond it a neutral zone between Qatar and Abu Dhabi extended along
the coast and some miles inland from Khor al Odaid to Sabkhat Matti, but that
this zone was not recognised by Ibn Saud, who took revenue from it.( 2 ) (2) is " a
line drawn from a point at the head of Dohat-as-Salwa Bay passing South of
Salwa and of Sakak to the coast immediately north of the Khor-al-Odaid inlet."( ■")
This line has not been communicated to the Ruler. The area between (2) and (3)
was then regarded as a no-man's land subject to British influence.
22. In the negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Government about their
south-eastern boundary before the last war (Chapter 5, paragraph 95) they claimed
the Jabal Nakhsh as being included in Saudi Arabia. They at first based their
claim on on alleged agreement with Abdullah before the 1916 Treaty but
subsequently admitted that no such agreement existed. It is, however, believed
that in 1934 Abdullah came to some secret agreement with Ibn Saud about his
boundary through an emissary called Muhammad bin Nasir. Abdullah himself
stated that he had replied through the emissary that his boundary extended to
and included Al Mashabiyah.C 1 )
23 In 1949 the Saudis claimed a boundary bearing due east from a point
on the coast of the Gulf of Salwa at latitude 24° 56' N. as far as longitude 51° E.
and thence in a straight line to the coast at latitude 24 48 N., leaving Amirah
to Saudi Arabia (Chapter 5, Appendix H). At the Damman Conference in 19^2
the Ruler of Qatar claimed that his boundary ran through the following places :
Ghar al Buraid Al Mashabiyah, Al Khuwaimat, Qarn abu Wall, Jau al Salamah,
Sauda Nathila, Iqlat Manasir, Khufus, Maharaf. The first-named place is on the
western coast of the peninsula four miles north of Salwah and the last named at
the head of the Khor al Odaid. This boundary is described m detail and discussed
in a note prepared about the same time by the Political Officer, Qatar.( )
24. No authoritative pronouncement has ever been made about the exact
oosition of the boundary between Qatar and Abu Dhabi and it would clearly be
otiose to make one™ the boundary dispute with the Saudis has been settled.
In 1951 the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. suggested that, if it was found necessary to give an
oninion on the subiect during the course of the negotiation with the Saudis,
should be claimed that the Khor al Odaid belongs to Abu Dhabi and the country
t „ omar ( 3 ") It may be noted Abu Dhabi claims Ummat Hul near
tontoy O ™. data rSiSTS — r "
India in 1895 but the correspondence on the subject is not traceable.
IV.—Oil
25. In 1923 the Eastern and General Syndicate (Major Holmes) sought the
permission of the asH^Majesty's" Government considered
ZtTfLgloTeSM Company had a prior claim.O In 1926 the latter
that the Anglo rers , Government's permission, sent a reconnaissance
company with H s Majesty s o Ruler F an undertaking that he would not
party to Qatar which gained trom m ^ ^ tr ired
grant a concession to any ouici yany
( 27 ) No. 5 VI, T.C. innuarv 14 1935 (E 324/269/91 of 1935).
n I.O. to P.O. P .Z. 271/35 onan y ^ ^ 2180/279/91 of
( 29 ) I.O. to P.O. P.Z. 2300/ P 1475/81/91 of 1934).
n I.O. to P.O. P.Z. 1399/34 otMarcn 16 1935 (E 922/152/91 of 1936).
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