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Coll 30/159 'Ownership of Hawar Islands.' [‎117r] (234/361)

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The record is made up of 1 file (179 folios). It was created in 29 Apr 1936-15 Oct 1942. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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You must be aware that the Islands ot Hawar, as
other islands, promontories and coasts ot Qatar, nave not
undergone anything that would chnage their position or
give cause tor anyone to claim them* I, theretore, was
astonished at the steps taken by the Bahrain Government
recently without my knowledge by visiting and inter!ering
in Hawar without having, as far as I understand, any
proper justification. I do not know on what ground the
Bahrain Government took such steps in these Islands
recently which made me object against them. 0 T Political
Agent I for a long time this Island was tree iiom any
interference or undertakings which attract attention and
| cause resentment, but remained like other islands. Some
fishermen, howver, visit this Island when they go to the
sea for fishing as they do in other islands which is
considered a usual practice. When I heard ot the recent
interference in the Islands of Hawar by the Bahrain
Government which is under my sovereignty owing to the
fact that it belongs to Qatar, I could not put an end to
it by opposition and stop their interference in this
Island although I was sure that I was right in claiming
the ownership of these Islands. As I considered this an
aggressive act, I deemed it incumbent on me to bring the
matter first to your notice in view of the relations
existing between us, and the right of His Majesty T s
Government to look into such mailers. I am sure that you
will give a careful consideration to what I have explained
on this subject. I hope that in such matters you will
pay your attention as to the correct statements which
agree with common sense, logic, rules and usages.
I now submit my formal complaint against tne
steps taken by the Bahrain Government in islands belonging
to others as followsi-
1. It seems hardly necessary for me to explain the
position/-

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Content

The file concerns the disputed claims of the rulers of Bahrain and Qatar to sovereignty over the Hawar Islands. The issue arose afresh in 1936 in response to a request from Petroleum Concessions Limited to settle the issue of ownership, in order that the Company could claim oil concession rights over the island as part of the concession not previously allocated to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) (the Bahrain Unallotted Area).

The papers contain statements of evidence on both sides, and correspondence discussing the question from 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. ; 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; the Foreign Office; Petroleum Concessions Limited; the Government of Bahrain; and the two rulers concerned. The British Government decided in 1939, after examining the evidence, that the islands belonged to Bahrain (folio 44). The papers show that 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior, challenged the validity of this judgement in 1941, stating that the case had been decided 'according to western ideas, and no allowance has been made for local custom and sentiment' (folios 6-8). However, a subsequent letter on the subject from the Government of India to the 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. concluded that it was then too late to reverse the decision (folio 4).

The Arabic language content of the papers consists of approximately five folios; these include photographs of judgements (with translation, folios 57-58) submitted by the Government of Bahrain to the British Government, showing that the Bahrain Court had exercised jurisdiction in legal cases concerning residents of Hawar (folios 130-133).

The file also includes photographs of places in Hawar (folios 126-127).

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (179 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 181; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-179, and ff 48-88; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 30/159 'Ownership of Hawar Islands.' [‎117r] (234/361), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3895, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100076666399.0x000025> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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