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Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [‎31r] (61/345)

The record is made up of 1 file (171 folios). It was created in 30 May 1932-16 Jul 1934. It was written in English. 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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©
Appendix ’’C”»
EXTRACTS FROM LEp£R Fit) M (HOUF GAFTAXH
^ s'Ain^ r*""
We left here cm Tue day to do the Uatar Keconnaiseance,
and on arrival at Bahrein I found that Loch had made
arrangements to transfer from the flying boats to the
’Shoroham” at Odaid, and was very vague as to the air
programme thereafter*
I suggested to him that it would be much bettor for
the two sloops , 'Shoreham ,, and ’’Bideford” to meet us at
Doha at mid-day on the 9th, whore we could have a conference
with Shaikh Abdullah bin Qoeim Ath Thani and his representa
tives and go into the matter of the landing ground at Riyan
to which Loch a reed* I sent a signal to this effect to
the S.N.O. who also agreed and met us at Doha, in company
with the ”Bideford”.
Provided permission was given I intended to mark out
the landing ground with some lime I had brought for the
purpose, and for one of the Wapitis of 84 Squadron to carry
out a trial landing*
However, the J^naikh’s son called on the S*H*0* on
the afternoon of the 9th and apologised for the absence of
his fatlier, who, he said, was sick, and had gone but into
the country to a place named A! viuhaib, which is some 35
mlloe H*H*I* of Doha, loch expressed his concern about the
Shaikhs illness, and off erred to take the Ship’s doctor to
see him, but we were immediately assured that it was a minor
illness and that he would be all right the following day.
Having called this bluff, we then made arrangements
to visit the Shaikh at A1 Quhaib at 0600 hours on the morning
of the 10th.
Next morning the Shaikh sent two cars, one with
escort, and Colonel Loch, Captain Browne of the IT Bideford”
(as, the S.N.O, had departed for Henjam the previous day) and
myself proceeded to Al Quhaib via Riyan, passing the
proposed landing ground en route. e found the Shaikh
looking very healthy ?*id fit, md after discussing everything
but the landing ground for some time. Loch eventually
suggested the possibility of one of our aircraft landing at
Riyan to test the landing ground.
The Shaikh immediately became animated, and refused
the request, having Ms reasons ready, stating that he did
not want aircraft to land at Pdyan, as there was no need for
it and he feared an accident, for which he night bo held
responsible.
Further, he said that when he had come to some
agreement about the oil with the Companies concerned, and
with us for protection, he would be prepared to let aircraft
land, but I gather that this should not b© construed into a
definite promise..
After further discussion he did eventually, though
somewhat reluctantly, tgree to us exandning the landing
ground at Riyan on the way back to Doha*
/The
4

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Content

The file contains correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to two topics. The first topic is an attempt by the British Government to obtain permission for an emergency landing ground in Qatar during 1932. The second topic relates to the air facilities needed by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Qatar, if an offer of British protection is to be made to the Shaikh of Qatar in return for an oil concession for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). In respect of this second topic, the file also contains material regarding a reconnaissance undertaken by the Royal Air Force over Qatar on the 9 May 1934 to identify suitable sites for such facilities. It includes a copy of a report on the reconnaissance – submitted by Bomber Squadron No 84, Shaibah, Iraq – on folios 27-32, along with a tracing of Qatar (folio 7) and a number of aerial photographs (folios 8-22) referenced in the report.

A draft copy of the Qatar Oil Concession can be found on folios 93-101, and notes of amendments proposed by the British Government can be found on folios 80-89. In addition, a number of 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. memoranda have also been included towards the back of the file: El Qatar, 1908-16 (folio 167), The Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Chiefs, 1908-28 (folios 168-71), and a Précis of the Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 164-67).

The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of the 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. .

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (171 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 173; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [‎31r] (61/345), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1956, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040867672.0x000040> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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