VED IN CONFIDENTIAL AECHIVES 14 JUL 1960 Jurisdiction in Qatar. During his recent visit to London, Sir George Middleton asked in a discussion with me that he should be given contingent authority to make to the Ruler of Qatar, if the latter should ask him, the same sort of statement as the one recently made by the Political Agent to the Ruler of Bahrain about an eventual transfer of jurisdiction on the lines of the transfer being made in Kuwait. He represented to me that the Ruler of Qatar may well ask for such a state ment, given developments in Kuwait, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, and that it would be embarrassing for him if he could only reply that he must refer the question to London. 2. The Secretary of State gave authority on April 7 for the statement contained in Foreign Office telegram No.462 of that date to be made to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. This statement looked forward to an eventual transfer of jurisdiction in Abu Dhabi. 3. On April 26, following my submission of that date, the (Flag c] Secretary of State approved the making of the similar statement, [Flag A) referred to in paragraph 1, to the Ruler of Bahrain. 4. I think it would be difficult for us, if the Ruler of Qatar asks us about jurisdiction, to say less to him than we have said to the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, and I agree with Sir George Middleton that it would be embarrassing for him to be obliged to say that he must refer to London. Nor do I foresee that, if we make a statement to the Ruler of Qatar about an eventual transfer of jurisdiction, the risks involved would be greater than those we have been prepared to take in Abu Dhabi, an even more backward State. The Deputy Ruler of Qatar has already shown interest in the transfer of jurisdiction taking place in Kuwait. He has asked about the /possibility CONFIDENTIAL
