Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [‎165r] (329/345)

• o
O
(cj) In 1911 the Sheikh agreed not to allow any foreign Power to open a
Post Oilice in Bahrein, and not to grant a pearl fishing or sponge fishing
concession to foreigners. In J914 he agreed not to search for oil himself or
give others permission to do so without consulting 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
receiving the approval of the Government of India.
-^EL-KATR.
(a) In 1868, as a result of hostilities initiated in Katr by the Sheikh of
Bahrein in co-operation with the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, and continued by a
retaliatory attack on Bahrein by Katr, Sheikh Mahomed bin Thani executed
an agreement to abstain from hostilities and to accept the arbitration of the
Resident, particularly in disputes as to the tribute payable to the Sheikh
of Bahrein, to whom the Sheikhs of Katr were then in some degree
subordinated.
(b) Shortly after, the Turks established themselves in Katr; and though
the British authorities did not hesitate to have direct dealings with the
Sheikhs of Katr, no written agreement was made with them.
(c) In the course of the negotiations with the Turkish Government in
1918 it was agreed that the southern and eastern limit of “ le Sandjuk Ottoman
de Nedjd” should be a “une ligne partant du fond extreme du golfe faisant
face a Pile de Zahnounie (i.e. the Bay of Salwa to the west of El Katr) qui
ira directement au sud jusqu’au Ruba’-al-Khafi et separera le Nedjd de la
presqu'-ile de FEl-Katr.” Further, it was agreed that “ le Gouvernement
de Sa Majeste Britannique—ne permettra pas au cheikh de Bahrein de
s’immiscer dans les affaires interieures d’el-Katr, de porter atteinte a
Tautonomie de ce pays ou de I’annexer.”
(d) The separation of El Katr from Nejd and its independence of Bahrein
having been thus established (though not thereby given effect), the way was
open for the conclusion of a Treaty signed on 3rd November 1916 after the
Turks had finally been expelled from El-Katr in the course of the war.
In this treaty the Sheikh takes note of, undertakes the obligations Articles I and n
resulting from, and is promised the advantages accruing from the various
•engagements concluded by the Trucial Chiefs for the suppression of slave
trade and piracy and the preservation of the maritime peace.
In Article III he undertakes to prohibit arms trade in Katr and to
•observe the arms traffic rules of the British Government.
In Articles IV and V he undertakes to have no relations with the Agent
of any other Power without the consent of the British Government, or to
cede land by lease, sale or gift or to grant monopolies, concessions or cable
landing rights. •
In Articles VII, VIII and IX he undertakes to protect British residents
and, if required, receive a British representative, and establish a British
post and telegraph office.
In return the British Government undertakes in Articles X and XI to
protect the Sheikh, his subjects and territory from all aggression by sea,
and to grant their good offices should he or his subjects be assailed by land
within the territories of Qatar ; it being understood that this obligation
only applies in the event of such aggression by land or by sea being
unprovoked by the Sheikh or Ids subjects.
Note. —From para. 10 of the Memorandum on the Trucial Chiefs on
p. 88 it will be seen that on the question being raised by the Sheikh in
1921 of the assistance which he might expect from Government in the event
■of an attack by Ibn Sand, he was informed that His Majesty’s Government
were not prepared to promise more than diplomatic assistance.
TRUCIAL COAST A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. (Ras-ul-Khaima, Abu Dhabi, Dabai, Shargah, Ajman,
Umm al Qaiwain).
(a) In 1820 these chiefs signed the general treaty (see Bahrein (a))
prescribing perpetual abstention from plunder and piracy by land and sea,
and from irregular (i.e. unproclaimed) war; registration of dhows; peace
with the British Government; abstention from the carrying off or transport
of slaves; free entry of their ships into British ports; “and if any shall
attack them the British Government shall take notice of it.” *
* “ Them ” in the context appears to mean the ships of the signatory Chiefs; but it may
mean the Chiefs.