Coll 6/67(2) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎345r] (694/734)

7
(d) The ai ea lying between the blue line and the boundaries recognised for Qatar
as in (a) above to be regarded, subject to confirmation by the Resident that
no claim to them is made or could be substantiated west of Aqal by Abu
Dhabi,_ as of indeterminate ownership. As it appears to be largely
inhospitable desert under Ikhwan control, save for the coastal strip of the
Barr al-Qarah, the likelihood that oil companies will actively interest
themselves in it is probably small. If they do, on the principle that Ibn
Saud has no interest east of the blue line, it might be necessary to consider
whether to attribute it to Qatar or Abu Dhabi (the wording of the 1913
Convention, as quoted in paragraph 5 above, would assist us in claiming it
for Qatar). It would in any event be desirable, in order to prevent foreign
interests from endeavouring to establish a foothold in it, to consider in what
way it could best be made clear that we regarded it as falling within our
own sphere of influence or that of one of our Trucial allies.
(e) When once oil operations have started in Qatar, to convey a warning (if and
when circumstances should make this appear advisable) through the Sheikh of
Qatar to the migratory Bedouin tribes who use the area referred to in (d) that
in the event of their crossing, with hostile intent or save for normal peaceful
pursuits, such as grazing, such line as may be fixed as the boundary of
Qatar, they will do so at their own peril. The local political authorities
would no doubt be able to ascertain and to advise what customary rights in
respect of grazing, &c. these migratory tribes at present enjoy within Qatar
proper. On the question whether any corresponding intimation should be
made to Ibn Saud in respect of tribes permanently belonging to Nejd but
using the indeterminate area it seems definitely preferable, in the interest of
avoiding discussion with him of the position of the indeterminate area and
of the blue line, to make no communication unless and until circumstances
make this quite inevitable. The question of any communication in respect
of Nejdi tribes (if any) using Qatar territory could equally be postponed
unless and until circumstances may make it necessary to consider it.
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. , J. Gf. Laithwaite.
26th January 1934.
[N.B ,—The conclusions suggested in paragraph 19 were accepted by the Government
of India and 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 their telegrams Nos. 408 of 21st February
and 244 of 27th February respectively. His Majesty’s Minister at Jedda has
suggested consideration of the desirability of leaving the boundaries of Qatar
‘‘undefined until the time comes to assert Blue Line principle” (Jedda Saving-
telegram No. 8 of 14th February).]
APPENDIX.
Boundaries of Qatar.
I—Extracts from Lorimer’s Gazetteer.
(i) Qatar.
fN.B. —Mr. Lorimer’s article on Qatar is stated to be the result of special enquiries
made over a number of years locally.)
Lorimer, Vol. II, page 1506, defines the boundaries of Qatar as follows :—
“ On the east, north and west, Qatar is surrounded by the sea. The southern
boundary is somewhat indeterminate. It begins at the foot of Dohat-as-Salwa
on the western side of the promontory, and from that point runs south-eastwards
to the wells of Sakak: thence, according to one account, it strikes east-north-
east to the north end of the Naqiyan sandhills, or, according to another, east by
south to the southern end of the same hills on the north side of the entrance to
Khor-al-’Odaid. As the territory of the Trucial Sheikh of Abu Dhabi has never
•clearly been asserted to extend beyond Khor-al-’Odaid, and as the Al-Thani
Sheikhs of Qatar undoubtedly claim the Naqiyan tract, the latter of the two