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Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’ [61r] (121/345)
The record is made up of 1 file (171 folios). It was created in 30 May 1932-16 Jul 1934. It was written in English. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
-3-
of protection of Qatar against external aggression Y/ould
*lso involve careful consideration of the problem of
intelligence. As you know, the success of air operations
depends very largely upon efficient intelligence, and we
normally (in Iraq for instance) provide our own Intelligence
Officers.
Apart from other considerations our concurrence in
the acceptance of additional commitments in Qatar or elsewhere
in the Gulf, would certainly depend to a considerable extent
upon arrangements being agreed to for the provision of such
, additional intelligence facilities as might prove necessary.
I merely mention this point at this stage so that you may
take note of it, and it need not delay progress with regard
to general policy.
5. In his most recent telegram the Air Officer
Commanding raises certain additional points, as follows
(a) That sanction is required to fly over Qatar at all
times without the need for obtaining prior
permission. We, of course, fly over Qatar when
we wish to do so now but it might be advantageous
to cover this point in any new treaty or, agreement
with the Sheikh. It might be done on the same
lines as already arranged for Bahrein, Koweit,
etc.
t
(b) The Air Officer Commanding asks that he may be
allowed to establish refuelling facilities at
Doha. This should, we think, apply to any
landing ground which we may acquire and might
in fact, be extended to allow us to put down any
accommodation we may require or to provide
any stores including, if necessary, armament
(bombs). In this connection it might also be
useful if the Sheikh was required to provide any
necessary labour to make or to improve our
landing grounds, and to guarantee their safety.
It is possible some small sum would have to be
paid for this. As far as protection is
concerned, under ordinary circumstances this would
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to two topics. The first topic is an attempt by the British Government to obtain permission for an emergency landing ground in Qatar during 1932. The second topic relates to the air facilities needed by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Qatar, if an offer of British protection is to be made to the Shaikh of Qatar in return for an oil concession for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). In respect of this second topic, the file also contains material regarding a reconnaissance undertaken by the Royal Air Force over Qatar on the 9 May 1934 to identify suitable sites for such facilities. It includes a copy of a report on the reconnaissance – submitted by Bomber Squadron No 84, Shaibah, Iraq – on folios 27-32, along with a tracing of Qatar (folio 7) and a number of aerial photographs (folios 8-22) referenced in the report.
A draft copy of the Qatar Oil Concession can be found on folios 93-101, and notes of amendments proposed by the British Government can be found on folios 80-89. In addition, a number of 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. memoranda have also been included towards the back of the file: El Qatar, 1908-16 (folio 167), The Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Chiefs, 1908-28 (folios 168-71), and a Précis of the Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 164-67).
The main correspondents are as follows: 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. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials 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. .
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 (171 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 173; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/1956
- Title
- Coll 5/11 ‘Air Route to India: Arab Coast Route – Emergency Landing Ground at Qatar’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 23r:92v, 102r:172v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence