Coll 25/18 'Orders-in-Council: Qatar: Jurisdiction over foreigners in Qatar' [‎170r] (339/635)

Copy of letter No. C/333-18/4 dated the 21st May
1938 from 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. , Bahrain, to Shaikh Abdullah
bin Qaalm A 1 Than!, Ruler of Qatar.
After Compliments.
I am sure you will remember the conversation which
I had with you at ^ohah on the 4th of F 0 bruary 1938 corres
ponding to the 3rd Dhul Hijjah 1356, in regard to matters
of jurisdiction over foreigners. I reported the substance
of that conversation to the Honourable the Political Resi
dent in the Persian Sulf and he has since informed His
l ajesty’s Government. I am now instructed to s ay that
His Majesty*s Cover iment note with satisfaction that in
regard to foreigner's you have agreed to the individual’s
personal religion rather than the State religion of his
country of origin being the criterion whether he comes
within your jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of the Rep
resentative of the British Government. This of course
does not apply to British subjects since you have already
n reed „hat all British subjects whether Moslem or Non-
Moslem should come within the jurisdiction of the British
Government’s Representative.
2. In regard to the other matters which we discussed,
and particularly in regard to the question of Moslem Cor
porations, your views were carefully represented to His
Majesty’s Government and as a result the High British Go
vernment does not wish now to pursue those matters further.
3. It now seems desirable to set out in a few clear
and simple sentences exactly how jurisdiction in Qatar will
be divided in accordance with the agreements reached between
you and the Honourable 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 in April 1935 and between you and me at our discussions
on the 4th February 1938.