ملف 19/243 III (C 95) الزبارة [و‎‎٩‎٩] (٤٦٢/٢٠٨)

/
S
\
SECRET
D.O. JNO.C/768
political Agency,
Bahrain, 15th May 1944
Please refer to the correspondence ending with your
demi-official letter jmo.71- S dated the 24th of January
addressed to Sir ulaf Caroe.
2. negotiations have been proceeding steadily since the
middle of December 1943. 1 do not propose to weary you
even with a resume' of the arguments which have been used
by the Shaikh of Bahrain, by the Shaikh of Qatar, and by
myself during the many hours of discussion which have taken
place since the inception of this latest attempt to solve
the Zubara problem. Kather i propose to inform you of the
present position and very briefly how it has been reached.
3. As you are aware negotiations were started with the
object of solving the Zubara problem by persuading the Shaikh
of Bahrain and the Shaikh of Qatar to agree to the Zubara area
being a 'neutral zone' on the lines of the 'neutral zone' bet
ween Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The proposition appealed to
the Shaikh of Bahrain but did not appeal to the Shaikh of
Qatar who was not prepared to relinquish his sovereignty over
any part of what he considered to be his dominions. i then
tried a different line and made certain personal suggestions
to the Shaikh of Bahrain which were that the actual buildings
at Zubara might be considered as the personal property of the
A1 Khalifah and also the ruins of the forts in the neghbour-
hood while the territory should remain as a part of the Shaikh-
dom of Qatar but the area in the immediate vicinity of Zubara
should be open to all comers without let or hindrance. The
Shaikh of Bahrain was to make it clear t |iat any agreement with
The Hon'ble Sir Geoffrey prior, K.C.l.E.,
Political Resident in the Persian Gull,
Bushire.
/the
| No.. 932
.-i. k : js