File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎326v] (40/164)

H
a question. I showed Abdullah how such a course would at once
result in trouble with the ruler of Qatar and Nejd, and would
^ not only be looked upon as a piece of great injustice by those
two rulers, but would be most vigorously opposed on the score of
justice, treaty and trade To my surprise Abdullah admitted
the entire force of my remarks, and then calmly turned round and
said “ we do not really want ‘ Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. * so very much, but we do
want to stake our claim on the mainland, and get a port there
in order that should Bin Saud open a port at A1 Jubail (north of
Q atlf ) may not be entirely ruined.” He further explained
that Shaikh ’Isa was very nervous on this point and feared that
Bin Saud bad something of this sort in mind for A1 Jubail was
an ideal place for a pori, there being good deep water at all tides
close in to the shore. That should such port be opened, then
Bahrein was doomed, for all its present trade with the mainland
would go direct by steamer to the new port and leave Bahrein out.
It, on the other hand, Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. were in Shaikh Isa’s hands this
could not happen. Shaikh Isa would gladly never mention
Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. again, if His Majesty’s Government promised not to
allow Bin Saud to open a port at A1 Jubail. This statement
ot the case came as a surprise to me. Abdullah clearly showed
hat Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. was not after all so very much sought after by
naikh Isa, but was only asked for as a means of bargaining with
Bin Saud,. should the latter attempt to develop A1 Jubail.
ine pomt^s very interesting and gives us a reasonably powerful
B^rehi Sh ° Uld we ever want to brill S Fissure on to the Buler of
(/) Proposal IV, I told Abdullah, was a ridiculous one to hare made
oreven^ X1 1 d a because ° ur band over her, we
Her external 11 ^ f- enem!es ^ rotn seizing and devouring her.
al matter^ re atl . 0QS 'vere entireiy in our hands, and as such
the wdinarv er nln , ? H ,elf 8nd Govemm eot must go through
the term^hl „? • 1 in delail th e meaning of
Turkev failed Wa and further pointed out that
of people over the'll 80 l* 5 * ers bad always listened to complaints
aiTc s ^ H.“t p snL'r “““ 1 0 " 1
harsh Political Ao^tP” t u 1 j St 1 ance » ^mp^in against a
done. ‘- Well - hTsai «th^n^ thk could be
about when he asked’ ,„t t 18 a , my fa ‘ber was thinking
London.” 1 ma ^ e m y fourth proposal in
early answer be obtained from^Hfs'AfaV r , e( l U p tin S me to writ e and ask that an
made. He also asked that I would* « f ^ * Gover a me nt to the four proposals
the conversation I had had with him Y ^ ,f nd P ? t before bigber authorities
request. In other words, I sathere^l^L^r® rea me , an!n ? underlying each
of what he had said. He thinks bn hn dl \ ^ sa was ra ther anxious to back out
into hot water. Ido not, for a moment an( ^ a ^ ra ^ of getting
a single point is conceded him u ll' ‘ lu nk that Shaikh’Isa will mind if not
8
the people of Ha7sa properoTtif and n oT difie 1 1 8 b° uld sngge’sT that
^.put under his conLrnoonfefse Q T !, rOI1 ' y i’ t r h f n present on ^e island
this effect. ° ne else ’ 1 suggest that early orders be passed to
saying that now hfk 0 new y Vw“ e ’a A tr d u U e ll8 f h Se d t “a 8 Tery f »endlv message,
spoken straight and frankly an d that k »w d , ad ^ iser > because I had
eyan in London he himself has believed it t. h ® b aikh ’Isa wanted all along,
the proposals made, but he had been advLId ^ ai ! Un ^' 6 , e move t° Put forward
’’(he, people who haraVax^t^ ^ father ’ ly “ M
Copy forwarded to the Civil rw, • • ..
me civil Commissioner, Baghdad.