Appendix 52: Memo Longrigg to Skliros 30/9/’48

The waters east of the Qatar peninsula and north of the Trucial Coast are, as you know, full of islands, reefs, rocks and pearl banks. These are not all adequately shown on the Admiralty charts.

Two hydrographic surveys in the Gulf are now in process by the U.S. and British Navies respectively. Both presumably will cover the Qatar – Trucial Coast waters.

H.M.G. has not made up its mind upon the subject of waters outside the 3-mile limit of territories. On the other hand, we know that islands which can show some sign of occupation or ownership are assigned to the Ruler who appears to have owned or occupied, and for this purpose fish traps, cairns, flags, huts, etc. are accepted as evidence. Hawar island is an example of this and possibly also the two Reefs north-west of Qatar which are apparently to be allocated to Bahrain on the strength of some such evidence.

Mr. Bird has suggested that the Company should carry out a survey of all the waters concerned; but in view of Naval work now in progress and the formidable nature of the task, I doubt whether this would be justified, especially as survey details (such as depths of water) would not have much relevance as to ownership. He further suggests, however, that “we should galvanise the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi for one and possibly the Shaikh of Qatar into staking his or their claims by the erection of distinguishing marks … to signify ownership. This would need careful handling, but is quite practicable”. This seems to me a valuable suggestion and the Marine Department (Captains Pilditch and Holden) confirm that they have the means of helping if it be a case of taking representatives of the Trucial Shaikhs out to the islands, locating these, possibly photographing cairns, etc. which are erected, acting as subsequent witnesses, and making sure that no strategic points are missed. Such organisation could be kept completely in the background and nothing much need be visible to the outside world, except the occupancy marks (no doubt corresponding with time-honoured pearling rights) erected by the Shaikhs of the mainland.