"ملف 19/243 IV الزبارة" [و‎‎٧] (٣٢٢/١٣)

D.O. No .c /14. The 5th of January, 1947.
Will you please refer to the correspondence
ending with my Express Letter No.C/1376 dated the 14th
December, 1946?
2. in order to clear the position on the Zubarah
issue, I have prepared a note summarising the history
of zubarah and the case which has arisen over it. I do
not claim that it contains all points, but it should be
fairly accurate. I hope you may find it of use.
3. With regard to a modus vivendi, the most that can
be hoped for is that the two parties should agree to differ.
As time has passed relations with qatar have become easier,
and although Shaikh Salman misses no opportunity of having
a dig at Qatar, in fact communications are more open. To
negotiate further might add fuel to the fire, and must
involve the fort at Murair over which the Shaikh of Qatar
is likely to prove adamant. Since we did not object to
its construction it would be difficult now to ask him to
abandon it, and£should have to find a quid pro quo which
would be difficult, if not impossible.
6.^5
4. Only this morning Shaikh Salman was requesting a
settlement of his claim and a reply to his letter dated
the 21st May, 1946, failing that he asked if he might
refer the question to a committee of Arab Rulers. This
was a new move but I replied that the matter was under
action. Whatever may be decided in this case, we shall
always have to face the obsession over Zubarah which domi
nates not only Shaikh Salman but the whole of the Al Khalifah
Neither is the Shaikh of Qatar at all likely to retreat
willingly from the position he has achieved.
The Hon»ble Lt-Col. W.R. Hay, C.S.I., C.I.E.,
political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
Bahrain .
NS.