'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summaries' [‎159r] (317/330)

that his agent had not made any application for shipping
space although due notice had been given. It was now
regretted that the lists had been closed some weeks and
that space could not be made available.
206. Qatar
(i) Shaikh Abdullah bin Qassim A1 Thani, C.I.E., the Ruler
of Qatar is nearly eighty years of age and has surrendered
the greater part of his authority to his most important son,
Shaikh Hamad. He has even handed over the seals of office
to this son.
As a result.of investigations carried out by 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. earlier in the year and more recently by
Khan^Bahadur Saiyid Abdur Razzak 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 at
Sharjah (reference paragraph No*183 of Intelligence Summary
No.21 of 1944) and the perusal and examination of reports
and petitions which have been received from time to time it
has become only too clear that the political situation in
Qatar is unsatisfactory. Shaikh Hamad has behaved in a
very high-handed manner and has rendered himself objection
able to themajority of his father’s subjects and of his own
relatives with the result that the former have to a great
extent left the country and the latter are only living in
Qatar because they are dependent on the Ruler. There is
no doubt that a percentage of the quota goods, in particular
sugar and piecegoods, which have been allotted to Qatar have
never found their way to the people for whom they were
intended, and there is reason to suppose that some arms
traffic has been taking place between Qatar and Persia.
Measures are under consideration to ensure that grain,
piecegoods, &c., do in fact reach the people for whom they
are intended and Shaikh Hamad’s connection with the arms
traffic and the re-export of quota goods is being examined.
(ii) It having been established that Abdullah bin Darwish
and his brothers jassim and Abdur Rahman have been actively
en g a g e d in re-exporting quota goods from Qatar and probably
trafficking in arms the Hon’ble 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. in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. has decided that the movements of these
persons must be restricted. 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. has been
instructed that they should not be granted travel documents
and the Shaikhs of the Arab side of the Gulf and the
British consular officers of the Persian side have been
. asked to co-operate in ensuring that the Darwish brothers
remain in Qatar.
207. Weather
Towards the end of the month fairly heavy showers of
rain fell and reports were received from Saudi Arabia of
extensive rain all over Nejd. Later reports were also
received from South Persia to the effect that heavy rain
had fallen over large areas. This news is most welcome
because it will mean that the livestock imports for next
summer and winter are assured and should be sufficiently
plentiful to bring the price down very considerably. Rain
in the Bahrain Islands is unwelcome as it does no 'one
any good and often causes serious damage to house property.
208. Meteorological '
Maximum temperature
Minimum temperature
Maximum humidity
Minimum humidity
86°F on the 19th.
62°F on the 30th.
90 % on the 18th.'
63 % on the 29th.
Total rainfall during the period 0.42 inch.
(Sd.) T. HICKINBOTHAM
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.