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'File 38/16 Effects of Bahrain-Qatar dispute on P. C. L.' [‎15r] (29/92)

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The record is made up of 1 file (44 folios). It was created in 11 Jan 1944-22 Nov 1948. 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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DO/CV. 1/4008
COPY
Bahrain,
1st August, 1945.
15
fU
My dear belgrave,
Many thanks for your letter dated 29th July and for the trouble
you have taken. I am sorry that we are adding to your problems. 1 notice
that you mark your letter "personal". Will it be in order for me to discuss
our difficulties with 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. and later to explain the situation
to our Managing Director ?
Before doing this, however, it has occurred to me that you may
care to put the following aspects of the matter to n.M.
Our Office combines Petroleum Concessions Ltd., Petroleum Development
( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Ltd., Petroleum Development (Oman & Dhofar) Limited as
well as the work in connection with Qatar, and the new accommodation for
which we are planning caters for the needs during the next few years of all
these companies. After some years it is expected that Qatar will become
almost completely self-supporting.
The second aspect is that the Ruler of Qatar has always objected
strongly to the Company’s use of Bahrain as a port for unloading its enuip-
ment and as the local purchase centre. It has long been a source of annoy
ance to him that Bahrain revenues benefit considerably from customs transit
dues on our oil eauipment and that Bahrain dhows bring water to zekrit.
Nothing would delight the Ruler more than to hear that difficulties have
arisen for us in Bahrain. In fact it can be expected that he will take this
opportunity to press the Company again to use Dohah as its port thereby
expecting the flow of money and prosperity to his main port.
It could be inferred from your letter that the object of b.b’s
attitude in the matter of P.C.L. accommodation is to induce the Company to
use any influence it may possess, either directly or indirectly, to change
the Shaikh of Qatar’s attitude on the Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. controversy. Even if it
were in order for us to approach the Shaikh on a matter in which B.M.G.
was the arbitrator it is obvious that the Shaikh of Qatar will do nothing
to help us to continue to use Bahrain facilities. As explained above, the
sooner we get out the better he will be pleased.
If these aspects can be put to B.B. we are not without hope that
the kindnesses and facilities we have experienced at the hands of His
Highness in the past will be repeated in this case of the comfort and
well-being of our British and Indian staff.
yours sincerely,
C. Dalryraple Belgrave, Esq., C.B.E.,
Adviser to the liovernment of Bahrain.
cpd/ACM

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Content

The file contains correspondence relating to how the dispute between Bahrain and Qatar over Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. has affected the work of Petroleum Concessions Limited. The principle correspondents 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; Sir Charles Belgrave, Advisor to the Government of Bahrain; Shaikh Sulman bin Hamad Al Khalifa [Salmān bin Ḥamad Āl Khalīfah], ruler of Bahrain; Shaikh Abdulla bin Qasim Al-Thani [‘Abdullāh bin Qāsim Āl Thānī], ruler of Qatar; and representatives (usually Ernest Vincent Packer) of Petroleum Concessions Limited (hereafter, the company) and its subsidiary, Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited.

The matters covered by the file are mostly founded on the rival historic claims to the old settlement of Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. . They are as follows:

  • the need to settle normal relations between the two countries, partly driven by the clarity needed to define oil concessions;
  • the company's attempts to buy land in Manama which lead to conditions imposed by the ruler of Bahrain concerning mosques, tombs and properties in Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. that are claimed by the Āl Khalīfah family;
  • disagreements over the company's use of the port of Sitra in Bahrain, and what they are permitted to import and export;
  • a meeting held between Packer and Shaikh Salmān on 15 February 1947 to settle these issues;
  • incidences of violence and conflict between Bahraini seamen employed by the company and Qatari guards at Zekrit during 1947 and 1948;
  • the refusal by Qatari authorities to allow Shaikh Shafi bin Salim, head of the Bani Hajir tribe, and his four sons to land at Zekrit in July 1948.

Folios 43-45 are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (44 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; 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 2-33; 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 38/16 Effects of Bahrain-Qatar dispute on P. C. L.' [‎15r] (29/92), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/871, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025657295.0x00001e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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