Coll 6/67(4) 'Boundaries of South Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎417r] (833/843)

Shanna : I enclose herein a copy of a valuable sketch map prepared by Colonel
Dickson to illustrate the result of his recent enquiries^ 1 )
15. You are authorised to make such use as you think best of this infor
mation; but you should be careful not to give the impression that His Majesty’s
Government have in any way abandoned their objections, as explained to Fuad
^^Bey Hamza in London, to basing the frontier solely on tribal considerations. To
do so might only encourage the belief that His Majesty's Government would be
prepared to modify their offer in the light of further statements regarding tribal
settlements or “ diras,” and might lead the Saudi Government to embark on a
lengthy, and inevitably fruitless, argument as to the precise areas covered by
tribal migrations. At the same time, you should make the best possible use of the
fact that, in their new proposals, His Majesty's Government are offering to
recognise the sovereignty of King Abdul Aziz over practically the whole “ dira
of the Ahl Murra tribe, even as defined by the information communicated by Fuad
Bey Hamza at the time of the conversations in London.
16. After these preliminary observations you should, subject to confirmation
by 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. of the exact location of key-points
A and B mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) below, and to further tele
graphic instructions in regard to the eastern sector of the frontier dealt with in
sub-paragraph (c) below, make a formal offer of the following line as the boundary
between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the one hand and the Sheikhdoms of
Qatar and Abu Dhabi (in special relations with His Majesty’s Government), the
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, and the Aden Protectorate, on the other :—
(a) A line starting from a point on the eastern shore of the gulf known as
the Dohat-as-Salwa about 4 miles to the north-east of the settlement
of Qasr-as-Salwa, running thence in a straight line to a point, which
may for convenience of reference be called “ Key-point A,” which will
probably lie at the western extremity of the salt lake known as
Sabkhat-al-Amra.
(b) From this point the line will run roughly due south to a point to be known
as “ Key-point B.” This point, when fixed, will be situated approxi
mately on the northern boundary of the Murra “ dira) *' as drawn in
the light of the latest information in the possession of His Majesty’s
Government (i.e., on Colonel Dickson’s map (see paragraph 14 above)).
It is proposed to fix this key-point B at some well on the southern edge
of the district known as A1 Aqal (i.e., a short distance east of the
intersection of meridian 51 c E. with parallel 24 N.) to which a
positive claim can be advanced on behalf of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.
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. is still making enquiries as to the precise
points at which these two key-points A and B could reasonably and
properly be fixed, and further instructions will be sent to you as soon
as his reports have been received and a decision has been reached by
His Majesty’s Government thereon.
(c) From key-point B it is proposed that the boundary should proceed,
generally speaking, in a straight line, but so as to leave the whole of
the Sabkhat Matti to Abu Dhabi to the intersection of parallel 22° N.
with meridian 54° or 55° E. and thence down whichever of those
meridians is decided on to its intersection with parallel 20 c N. 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. is being consulted on the question of substituting
meridian 55° E. for meridian 54° E., as originally proposed, for this
sector of the line, and further instructions will be sent to you on this
point as soon as possible.
(d) Thence the boundary will run in an approximately straight line, but so
as to leave the Sabkhat Mijora in Saudi Arabia and the Rarnlat
Mugshin in Muscat and Oman, to the intersection of meridian 52 c E.
and°parallel 19° N. (namely the south-eastern corner of the area—
the so-called “ brown line ” concession—offered to Fuad Bey Hamza
in London last July), and thence in a straight line to the intersection
of parallel 18° N. with the “violet line” of the Anglo-Turkish
Convention of 1914.
(qNot reproduced.