'الملف 10/3 IV الامتياز النفطي بقطر' [و‎‎١‎٦] (٥٣٤/٥٢)

P.Z. 1900/54.
AIR nl] 1 'TRY,
SigCRBT. LONDON, r 7 ,0,2.
19th March, 1934.
S .32797/S.6.
/
^^ w
Sir, J'?.
With reference to India Office letter r. Z.628/34
of 1st February, 1934, on the subject of an oil concession
in C^atar, and of the proposal to give an undertaking of
protection to the Sheikh in return for the grant him of
a concession to a British oil company, I am co imanded 'by
the Air Council to state, for the information of the
Secretary of State for India, that although the subject has
recently received consideration by the GoTern ent, it seems
desirable to the Council to record their views on the
question of policy raised, and their answers to the specific
questions asked in the letter under reference.
2. In view of the importance to British interests of
retaining the special position^of His I ajesty's Govern -ent
in these regions the Council are in agreement with the
proposal that an assurance of protection in suitable terms
should be given to the Sheikh, subject to certain safeguards
and to the provision of the facilities necessary to
implement it. They regard it as of great importance that
any such assurance should not tontain an undertaking to do
more than could in fact be done with the resources
available»
3. In the view of the Council, the contingencies
against which protection might actually be required may be
summed up rg follows:-
(i) formal attack by Ibn Saud, or by some other
Power, with the object of capturing the country.
(ii) Large scale tribal invasion frcm Bejd, either
ostensibly unauthorised by Ibn Saud j or such
as might occur if Saudi Arabia should
disintegrate after the death of Ibn Saud.
he Under Secretary of State,
India Office,
Whitehall, S.W«1,