'File 4/13 IV Zubara' [‎148r] (300/412)

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Is of minor importaxico was Co do witxi the return of the
which had been captured at the time of the original
hostilities. The Shaikh of c^atar informed His Highness*
representative that the arms were still in his possession
and that they had been carefully preserved by him personally
and that he was prepared to hand them over provided His
Highness would make a definite written request for them.
His Highness was inclined to seek our assistance in this
matter but I point d out to him that it was a matter for
the Shaikh of Qatar to decide and that porsumably if he
desired him to return the arms and felt that he could ask
for them he would do so. He fcould thus be able to put to x
the test tne Shaikh of Qatar«s good intentions. His
Highness made no definite statement with regard to his
intentions and I am inclined to believe that h". will have
the intelligence not to push the matter any further.
6. If the shaikh of Bahrain*s envoy is to be
believed the Shaikh of Qatar has undergone a very curious
change of h art with regard to the Zubara question which
can be explained in part by the fact that the real respect
which the two Rulers have for each oth r hes been revived
by the re-establishemnt of relations between their countries^
and in part f and I fear me th^ greater part, by the pressure
which the Ruler of Qatar is at present being subjected to
by us to improve the economic condition of his people. The
existing agreement between the two countries restores the
political position to what it was prior to the outbreak
of hostilities in 1936 and is so worded as to obviate the
necessity for a decision to be given with regard to the
actual sovereignty of the Zubara area. If vnue coul >e
allowed to pass I think the old relationship between Bahrain
and Qatar would be completely re-established and the z/uuara
volcano would aguin return to the quiescent st-go, out only
/would