Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎18r] (36/603)

Copy of translation of letter dated the 19th Sdfar, 1367
(31.12.1947), from His Highness Shaikh Sir Salman bin Humad
Al Khalifah, Ruler of Bahrain , to C.J. Pelly, Esq.,
O.B.E., H.B.7. f s 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. , Bahrain.
I have the honour *o acknowledge the receipt of
your letter M o. C/1926, dated 23rd December, 1947, deal
ing ' 1th the sea which lies between Bahrain and^Qatar,
\
2. we wish to point out that since the time that our
ancestors conquered Bahrain from their town of Zubara
until the present day the seas lying between, our Eastern
coast and the western coast of the Qatar peninsular have
been under our control and we have held domination over
■ the islands, shoals and reefs which exist in these waters.
Our people own fishing rights, which have never been dis
puted, in the waters inside this area.
3. During the lengthy negotiations between our Govern
ment and the two oil companies, Bahrain Petroleum Company
and Petroleum Concessions Limited who were competing for
an oil concession in the seas belonging to Bahrain, in 1938
and 1939, many discussions took place and maps and plans
were made showing the sea area which was the subject of the
negotiations. These negotiations were carried out through
’s 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. who was either present during the
meetings or who was provided with a detailed note about all
matters which were discussed. The sea area which we were
then prepared to lease to the companies between the coasts
of Bahrain and Qatar was from and Including the island of
Jinan, the most southern island of the Kawar Group, to a
point approximately 10 miles north east of Fasht al Dibal.
It was at no time suggested by H.B.M. *3 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. that
we had no rights over any part of the sea area lying between
Bahrain and this line. If our ownership of this area was in
doubt why were these negotiations approved by H.a.P.'s poli
tical Agent*’
4. In para 4 of your letter you state that our sovereign
rights in Dibal and Jaradeh shoals, which are above spring
tide low water level, are recognised. These two shoals are
in fact the terminus of one long continuous shoal which begins
off ditra Island and reaches Dibal and Jaradeh. There Is no
deep water channel crossing this shoal and the highest points ,
of tills shoal, at Dibal and Jaradah. cannot be separated from
the main shoal. We contend that all the sea lying between our
coasts up to and including Dibal and Jaradah should be included
in the sea over which we have sovereign rights.
3. We are unable to understand why our island of Jinan,
which, owing to the rich fishing grounds around it, is an
island of value, has been excluded from the Hawar group.
Jinan is used as a base by our fishermen who are accustomed,
with our permission, to erect huts on the island in the fishing
season. Jinan has been recognised as one of tfye islands of the
Hawar group and was specifically referred to by us in our letter
to *s 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. , vl g 3 L>JSZ d) of tpr i-j—
1.936 . from our'Adviser to »s 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. . It is narked
by a beacon which we constructed in 13.68.
6. in conclusion we consider that die deiiminution des
cribed In your letter should be readjusted and the dividing
/line
(p. r.o.)