'15/7 HAWAR ISLANDS' [‎256v] (517/540)

friWFIDEKTIAL .
P.O > NotD.5262-TT/41.
AIR
I
External Affairs Departmentj
^ew Delhi, ,
The November 1941*;
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4 .v o^ lease refer t0 tier's D.O. letter No.C/466 of
the 26th October 1941 in which he traverses the decision
that the Hawar Islands of the Qatar coast belong to Bahrain,
^nere the local experts differ so markedly as in this case,
it is difficult to adjudicate, and the Government of India
are of the view that the only safe course is to follow
Prior's own adyice at the end of his letter and decide that
it is now outside practical politics to reverse the decision
made m 1939 and communicated to both Rulers.
2. ^They have however consulted Weightman, whose report
I? h i s No.C/266-1.a/29 of the 22nd April 1939 forms
the foundation on which the decision to allot the Islands
to Bahrain was based and have ascertained that, as might be
expected, he holds to the opinion he then gave* That report
is certainly a considered document based on visits to the
Hawar main Island itself, and it is reasonable to observe
tixcit the counter opinion now given is not related directly
to it, but to the claims put forward by the Bahrein Adviser.
3. For the rest the opinion now given appears to be
founded mainly on two considerations (i) that the rights
of Qatar to the Hawar Islands find endorsement in Lorimer
and (ii) that the general view of independent Arabs,
presumably (though it is not so stated) proceeding mainly
from the theory of geographical propinquity, with the
consequent power to exercise the attributes of sovereignty,
is in favour of Qatar. ■ ^ -© >
On the first point the only reference traceable to Hawar
in Lorimer is on page 1513 of Volume II of his Gazetteer of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. * Here Hawar is mentioned only as one of the
Islands adjoining the Western Qatar coast, and there is no
reference to sovereignty or proprietary rights except in so
far as such can be deduced from the fact that, as is known
already, the Dawasir tribe built cisterns and have houses at
two places on the main island. By those who know the Arabs
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. the second point may possibly he held
to override all logic, and Prior's opinion on such a point
is entitled to great weight. But here also the Government of
India cannot hut think that, even in dealing with Arabs, it
would be unwise to arrive at a decision on sovereignty or
proprietary rights without full consideration of matters of
use, occupancy and exercise of the attributes of sovereignty.
On that point the weight of the evidence so far adduced would
appear to be in favour of Bahrain*
4. The Government of India are doubtful of the wisdom of
calling in Daly as arbitrator in this matter. It is more
than a decade since he left the Gulf and a casual opinion
from him would hardly be of much value. If it were decided
that the matter is sufficiently important to justify a
review of the decision, and to this end to appoint an arbi
trator ad hoc acceptable to both parties, and Daly could be
spared for the work, the case might be different. But apart
from