'F 83 File 82/27-II QATAR OIL' [‎247r] (509/630)

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I Tli decision to regard it as a political no-man s land would, so far as can be
I p* ! ]-i. e |y to mean little more than the acceptance of the de facto position
yged, be ^ geen f rom paragraphs 16 to 18 below, the area, save for the
tQ-day. - 15 ^ is largely desert, peopled by nomadic tribes yielding uncertaiii
Jarr-ai-^ 1 g au ^ aI1( ^ j t appears to differ little in general conditions from the
ollegianco o Admittedly the absence of a limitrophe ruler who could
Pi 1 ^, ^ on gible for the activities of his subjects, may mate it more difficult to
Lmade rebp - ^ border of Qatar against nomadic Bedouins. But the difficulties
jsecure tue^s ^ than they appear. The difficulties of any alternative to
involved m^y ag 0 f indeterminate ownership are great, and at any rate as a
regarding ^ ^ ere wou ld appear to be much to be said for treating this area as
rff^Ltp in ownership and avoiding, if possible, raising the thorny questions
boundaries to the west and of political control within it with Ibn Saud.
Nature and Political Conditions of the Indeterminate Area.
ifi Before reaching a conclusion it may be well to place on record such scanty
[formation as is available about the nature and the political conditions of the
Ir, ILtft area Apart from the coastal district known as the Barr-al-Qarah,
n further discussed in paragraph 18 below, the bulk of it appears to belong
K TArah desert, which Lorimer describes as an area "possessing only a few
Lis of very bitter water, a little scanty grazing, with a surface of red and burning 3 • •
md" in which living conditions are extremely difficult and which is frequented
| any considerable extent "only by "the hardy A1 Morrah, and even they avoid
Lmg it unless in winter or in search of a refuge from^ more powerful enemies
I Appendix, section I (vi)). Since the date of Lorimer s Gazetteer, Mr Bertram
Imas, on Ms recent crossing of the Rub-al-Khab, has passedhrough t^sara
trom south to north, travelling from the well of Banaiyan near Latitude ^8 11 40 via
Haluwain, Nakhala, and the western extremity of a salt lake lying immedidtely west
oithe Khor-al-Odeid, across the pre-war Qatar frontier to Dohah. His account is of
importance because it makes it clear that such local control as 's exercised is
percised solely by nomad Bedouin tribes (and principally the A who
tribe dwelling in the sands, whose influence extends well down into the Rub-al-Kha >
fondly, even though he travelled with a " rabia," or guarantor, from the Al Murra Arab..
Iribe, the journey was rendered extremely dangerous by the risk o an _ 216-7, 281.
Lrty by Ikhwan fanatics, who roam apparently at large, over e i • i i- * Arabia
thirdly, the sites of Salwa, Iskak (?---Sakak) and Mabak the first two of which he pn ^
and the third slightly south of, the pre-war boundary of Qatar, were at the time ot p
pis journey in the hands of the Ikhwan, with the result that he could not visit them. footnot e.
17. On the question of political conditions Mr. Thomas through^
fine rente of which lay well to the east of the blue line o e £ . n re.
[Convention) from the centre of the Rub-al-Khali northwards o e^
refers to the established influence of Ibn Sand and its efic ^ nt . r ^
remarks: "To-day peace, the peace of Bin Baud, prevails t roug ^ . I 4 r 1 a;l3ia
The influence of the Ruler of Central Arabia, wielded throug is ^ direct nn ^11-2
lofuf, Ibn Jiluwi, compels peace between all these old enemies, not ^rongh direct pp. 271-2.
control, for there is and can be none, but through the immense P® rsond ^ i sqnds
Abdul Aziz himself. A belief in his strength and star has swep acio mi
pot love, but awe, serves this wise providence that so directs affairs. .. . ^ a
saud tribes proper are in some degree leagued with Bm Saud. y P y ,
nominal tribute and by that act are ensured mutual protection one tl *
In theory the tribute is an annual levy of one dollar on each came . p ' ^
Itasbid have no money, and in any event they escape proper paymen } O p'p as iou .
remoteness. They do, however, send a camel from year o Y < sanc i s an ci
offers in token of submission. When, however, rams fall m t e noi oame ] s ar e
fey migrate thither, the tax-gatherers' demands must be met, anc a t V ipv all
sold for the purpose. Light as is the bond, the tribes grumb e a 1 • • * •
swear that the existing peace shall last only as long as the P 168 ?? 1 . & r p Sam ed
%adh or Hofuf be thought to have lost its power, and raiding will be r^s
'fflmediately, and blood will flow again. ..." Mr Thomas s remarks may be
Spared with those of Mr. Philby (who in 1932 travelled through the Vaiv ^
^ea and tihence south-west to the Jabrin oasis) reproduced m section i
Appendix to this Note. A2