'File 4/13 IV Zubara' [‎72r] (148/412)

4
he knew as well as I did the fluid position with regard to his
southfcfn boundary and that it was indeed unwise to give Ibn Saud
the slightest excuse for making any advance in that direction
such as the establishment of police posts to prevent smuggling.
The Shaikh of ^atar said that he fully agreed with everything
that I said and that he would do his utmost to prevent any
recurrence of such incidents in the future.
✓
The copy was completed of the draft agreement and at that
moment the Shaikh stated quite correctly, for the call to prayer
could be distinctly heard, that he wished to go and say the
evening prayer. He left, but had gone scarcely two minutes
when he sent for Saleh bin Mana.
5. The events now to be detailed did not come to light
immediately but I have no doubt that they are correct. On
Saleh bin Mana leaving the audience room he was instructed by
the Shaikh of Qatar to go to Shaikh Hamad, show him the proposed
agreement, and instruct him to affix the Shaikh of Qatar*s seal
to the document. It is interesting to note that Shaikh Hamad
should have succeeded in so far gaining control as to have the
custody of that most precious of all t he Arab emblems of sove
reignty the signet ring. It appears that Saleh bin Mana went
to Shaikh Hamad who read the document through, flew into a temper,
it must be remembered he had severe tooth-ache and has had for
some days previously, said that his father had sold the country
to the Al Khalifah, that he would have no hand in such a proceedini
and would not affix the seal. Saleh bin liana having no alter
native returned to the Shaikh of Qatar and told him what had
occurred with the result that the old man was most upset, became
Saleh bin Mana returned to Khan Bahadur Saiyid Abdur Razzaak and
myself and stated briefly what had occurred. Naturally we were
both disgusted and disappointed and when the Shaikh returned
immediately prior to the evening meal I asked him whfirH the docu
ment had been completed. He became incoherent and it was with
difficulty that we made out that he had decided that he must make
various changes in the form and words of the agreement. I
querulous and tore the document into pieces which he cast from him,
whether