'File 10/3 VI Qatar Oil Concession' [‎82r] (175/481)

f Q
39
suggested that we should aim at concluding a treaty on broad lines for the
moment, accompanied by an undertaking to conclude, as soon as this could
conveniently be arranged, a detailed treaty in regard to other matters outstanding.
They suggested that the guarantee of independence should be to the effect that
"the British Government recognises Ibn Saud as independent ruler of Nejd,
Hasa and Qatif, and guarantees hereditary succession to his dynasty ' 1 i .o. to F.O.,
HM. Government approved, but (on the proposal of 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. ) suggested 30.1.15 _
that the new treaty should also " contain a clause binding Ibn Saud, subject to
eventual definition of boundaries, not to interfere with Koweit, Bahrein, El Katr 2 2.15.
and the Trucial Chiefs." There is nothing on record to show the precise object Tel. to Vic.,
of the reference to a subsequent delimitation. 1.2.15.
189. Discussions were pursued on this basis between Sir Percy Cox and P.R.
in Arkril 1 Ql Fi TV ip British Hrnft, rmd thpi draft finbmittftd bv Tbn Saud f*-
to G. of
Ibn Saud in April 1915. The British draft and the draft submitted by Ibn Saud ^ , 1 .
on the points now under consideration were then as follows ;— p. 2832 15.
British Draft. Ihn Saud's Draft.
Article I. The British Govern
ment do acknowledge and admit that
Nejd, El Hasa and Qatif, and their
territories and ports on the shores of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. are the territory of
Ibn Saud and his fathers before him,
and do hereby recognise the said Ibn
Saud as the independent Ruler thereof,
and after him his sons and descen
dants, etc
Article I. The British Govern
ment do acknowledge and admit that
Nejd, El Hasa, Qatif, Juhail, their
dependencies and territories, which
will he discussed and determined here
after, and their territories and ports
on the shores of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. are
the countries of Ibn Saud and of his
fathers before him, and do hereby
recognise the said Ibn Saud as indepen
dent Ruler thereof and as absolute
chief of their tribes, and after him his
sons, etc
Article VI. Ibn Saud undertakes,
as his fathers did before him, to refrain
from all aggression on or interference
with the territories of Koweit, Bahrain,
the Sheikhs of Qatar and the Oman
coast who are under the protection of
the Exalted Government and have
treaty relations, and the limits of their
territories shall be hereafter deter
mined.
Article VI. Ibn Saud undertakes,
as his fathers did before him, to refrain
from all aggression on or interference
with the territories of Koweit,
Bahrain, Qatar and the Oman coast,
or other tribes and Chiefs who are
under the protection of the British
Government, and the limits of whose
territories shall be hereafter deter
mined.
190. H.M. Government gave Sir Percy Cox a discretion as regards the p. 2966/15.
alternatives suggested by Ibn Saud.
A greement between Ibn Rashid and Ibn Saud, \0th June 1915.
191. On the 10th June 1915 Ibn Saud reached an agreement with Saud bin P. 772/16.
Abdul Aziz Ibn Rashrd. Its terms are of some interest as showing the extent
at the time of Ibn Saud's tribal claims. The agreement provided " that Nejd
and all the interior from A1 Kahaf to the valley of Duwasir and all territories
of Ibn Saud and the encampments of Matair, Ataiba, Harb, Bani Abdulla,
Ajman, A1 Morra, A1 Manasir, Bani Hajer, Sabia, A1 Sahul, Qahtauf, and A1
Duwasir, and everybody included among them, are subjects of Ibn Saud. I,
Ibn Rashid, have nothing to do with them "
T reaty of 26 th D ecember 1915 between H.M. G overnment and I bn S aud.
192. After further discussions between Sir Percy Cox and Ibn Saud, a treaty p. 668/16.
was finally signed on 26th December 1915. The Saudi draft of Article I, as set p.r . to G. of
0 ^t in paragraph 189 above, was accepted. It appeared that the reason for the L, No. 35 C.,
Saudi version was that Jubail was the locality where Ibn Saud's limits on the 311 6.
J'Oast approached those claimed by Koweit, and that for that reason he wished to Aitch. XII,
^ave it specified. As it was well outside the boundary accepted by H.M. Govern-
ment for Koweit in their negotiations with the Turks, Sir Percy Cox saw no pp ' ~ '
objection to its acceptance.
3076 L
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