'File 19/212 II (C 47) Bahrain Transit Trade' [‎121r] (257/538)

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must be given to the interests of Bahrein it was important
to avoid any action which, "by prejudicing our general
i relations with Ihn 3aud, might prejudicially affect matters
oi major importance such as the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan negotiations.
The oest course seemed to he to work at the proposed
corxference for a friendly agreement on the lines of the
Bin Jiluwi arrangements, possibly accompanied by a
"gentleman s understanding" that "Ahmedi" cases would not
recur; out that if they Qid it would be necessary for the
Baarein Government to consider retaliatory action.
.yA-kQIL^lj:—^ o ■ 1.6 and i^r» Lit.hwaite > while recognising
the; leiC6 of the foreign Office objections, felt strongly
at the same time that the chances of a satisfactory
agreement woula be much improved if it was possible to
furnish the Bahrein! representatives with some weapon for
use if the Se^udis proved intransigent. Gases of the
"Ahiuedi" type were a serious problem, and likely to become
still more so in the event of the Saudis acquiring steamers
of taeii own, though admittedly vessels oi a certain draught
i%ht evade any question of dues by calling at Has Tanura
^nd discharging Hasa cargo there before discharging cargo
-t D-ahrein. Moreover, while there were obvious objections
^ a narked discrimination, the Hasa-Bahrein situation
presented special features which had resulted in the
1 oi 1920 and which might be regarded as justifying
some degree of special provision.
After considerable further discussion, Mr> Marker
^gSotiriif,, in particular, that a duty might be Imposed
on Hasa cargoes, possibly unaer the name of a "customs
Cor ituoi charge" il justifiable on the ground of preventing
^Eling, it appeared that all the suggestions made for
^rcumventing evasion of Bahrein transit dues were open to
the/