'File 3/21 Political Officer, Qatar and Political Affairs, Qatar' [‎10r] (19/94)

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would probably need fairly careful drafting: I would
try to get one ready for your approval if you agree.
4. May I at this juncture point out that it is use
less to proceed with the politics of this matter unless
the mechanics of it are put on a proper footing 7 . At
a rough estimate even to hire a house in Qatar will cost
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not less than £200/- a year, to make it habitable will
probably require about £1000/-, a suitable car will cost
another £1000/- — an officer there without a car will
lose atleast half his value and about as much of his
prestige. I share your dislike of the latter term, but
I need hardly point out to you that in a primitive place
like Qatar -- perhaps one of the most primitive places
left in the modern world -- this quality is very im
portant. I hope you will agree with me that the first
act of an officer residing there should be to hoist the
Union Flag -- and to hoist it on a high mast — with
which he will have to be provided presumably by the
Ministry of A’orks. After all it still stands for in Qatar
what it stood for in the Gulf 100 years ago.
5. Even if the house, etc. were provided,the question
of who is going to live in it does not seem to be easy,
particularly when, as you informed me, even the question
of a permanent Assistant 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. for this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
is causing difficulty. If we have the house etc.,
I would like to occupy it myself for about a week in the
first place and shortly afterwards to send someone there
for a fortnight or so; but as we are placed for staff at
present this is impossible.
Yours sincerely