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‘File 28/35 Defence of Qatar’ [‎4r] (7/150)

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The record is made up of 1 file (73 folios). It was created in 6 Feb 1939-20 Aug 1941. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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country (though not high hills) immediately north and north
east of the Oil Camp and test well.
Paragraph 8
I do not quite understand why Dohah should be named as an
important tactical point. It is not actually the Shaikh’s
capital, it is a very bad port, and its only importance seems
to be that it is the largest "town" in Qatar. The aerodrome
to the north of the town is not, to my mind, well located
strategically.
Paragraph 11
It is a little disturbing to read that "With the present
number of British squadrons in Iraq and with their commitments
in an Empire emergency, it may not be possible to implement
our obligations to the Shaikh of Qatar”. If this is so, then
no guarantee should have been given; or if His Majesty’s
Government approved of a guarantee then surely energetic steps
should be taken to ensure that it can be carried out.
Paragraph 12
As stated above I think the Dohah landing ground is badly
placed. It is 55 miles by road from the Oil Camp which,
assuming oil developments, will presumably be the main point
of defence. I have personally seen an area about 2 miles from
the Zekrit landing, on the road from Zekrit pier to the Oil
Camp, which could be cleared and used as an aerodrome very
cheaply. The Royal Air Force will presumably wish to verify
this view and the Air Liaison Officer might take an early
opportunity of visiting Zekrit. In so far as expenditure is
concerned, I think the Oil Company will be prepared to meet
the cost of clearance provided it is allowed to use its own
aircraft in normal times.
Paragraph 16/-

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Content

The file, while entitled ‘Defence of Qatar’, chiefly concerns the issue of six rifles and 1,200 rounds of small arms ammunition (SAA) to British personnel employed by Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) in Qatar during the war. The principal correspondents in the file are: 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. at Bahrain (Hugh Weightman; Major Reginald George Evelin William Alban) and the Manager of PCL at Bahrain (Ernest Vincent Packer).

The file includes:

Extent and format
1 file (73 folios)
Arrangement

The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the file (ff 69-74) mirror the chronological arrangement.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 75; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 1-74; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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‘File 28/35 Defence of Qatar’ [‎4r] (7/150), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/728, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025656362.0x000008> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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