that since this case had remained unsettled for so long he would be regarded as a laughing-stock if he re-opened it now. He had made repeated complaints, but all to no effect. He added that this territory was now lost to him. H.E. replied that the full facts had not yet been collected and collated. It was only by collecting all the available evidence that a fair decision could be reached. If the Ruler declined to produce any evidence in support of his claim, the final award might be unfavourable to him; or the frontier areas might remain indeterminate indefinitely. Shaikh Zaid then intervened and suggested to the Ruler that, although Abu Dhabi had been wronged, he should accept H.E.'s suggestion and present his evidence to an arbitrator. The Ruler repeated that this dispute went back nine years and that the territory was lost to him. Shaikh Zaid agreed that it might appear ridiculous if Shakhbut were to re-open his claim at this late stage. If two persons disputed the ownership of a house, they normally referred the matter straight away to the Qadhi. If a period of several years elapsed before this matter were brought before him, people would laugh at the plaintiff for not having raised it earlier. H.E. made a final appeal to the Ruler's reason, emphasising that he was anxious to help him, but at the end of the discussions the Ruler still maintained that this dispute lay with Q.P.C. and he would not accept H.E.'s proposals for the collection of information. He said he did not wish to bother H.E. with this problem, but asked to be allowed to settle the matter direct wi the company. The Ruler continued this theme at the airfield on the morning of February 25, when H.E. was about to leave, suggesting that his dispute with the company should be heard in London. H.E. pointed out once more that the oil company could not be held responsible for any mis-carriage of justice that may have arisen over the frontier, since in frontier matters the companies had to accept H.M.G.'s ruling; but the Ruler remained unconvinced.
