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Coll 30/159 'Ownership of Hawar Islands.' [‎158r] (315/361)

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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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151 ■
7173 Wt 8'JOO/lll 10,000
4.38
(§)
Minute Paper. Department.
between the Sheikh and the two companies who are
competing for the unallotted area, namely, the
Bahrein Petroleum Company and Petroleum Concessions
Ltd, Apparently, the Sheikh is anxious himself to
undertake negotiations and feels that as both
companies have their headquarters here it would be
appropriate to do so in London. Subject to any
observations the other departments may have to
make, it is proposed to inform the Sheikh of Bahrein,
through Mr. Belgrave, that there is no objection to His
Excellency negotiating with the tv/o companies while he is
in London provided he keeps 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. informed
of the progress of the negotiations. There will hardly
be time for much progress before the Sheikh is due to
return (20th July).
As regards (I) above, the proposed reply about
Hawar seems the best in the circumstances. It is a
provisional decision; a final decision clearly could
not be reached without hearing Q,atr ’ s claim (if any),
and one would think that he might have a supportable
! claim, as the island is only five miles from the
mainland. If the B.P.C. get the concession of the
unallotted area, their rivals, Petroleum Concessions
Ltd., might be inclined to dispute our provisional
decision on Hav/ar, and we might then get a claim
from the Sheikh of Qatr which would necessitate a final
decision on the part of H.M.G. Qatr may of course make
a claim in any case, but it hardly seems necessary to
put it into his head by asking whether he has one.
J.C. Walton.
8.7.36.

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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.' [‎158r] (315/361), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3895, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100076666399.0x000076> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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