3 26/ Top Secret. Secret. Confidential Restricted. Open. Draft letter to Sir B. Burrows, Bahrain , Kcha. copied to: Mr. Tripp, Dubai. Mr. Buckmaster, Abu Dhabi. Mr. Carden, Doha. NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN. Your letter No. 1084/2/8/57 of March 6 to Robert Walmsley about Halul. 2. We have found your assessment of the way Shaikh Shakbut's mind is working most helpful to us in our consideration of your proposals. We agree that we have acted somewhat cavalierly in the past by not telling Shaikh Shakhbut of the southern boundary of Qatar shown in the map attached to the Qatar oil concession agreement when by signing the Political Agreement and by nu Ruler the subsequent exchange of letters with . . we may be held to have committed ourselves to supporting Qatar's claim at least to a boundary as far south as the one shown in that map. 3. In view of Shaikh Shakhbut's attitude, we agree that the only possible way to make progress will be, as you suggest, to proceed with the arrangements flott esbitration in such a way that we do not have to obtain prior approval of both Rulers to the terms of reference nor to obtain an undertaking from them that they will accept H.M.G.'s decision. We therefore approve the lines on which you propose to address the two Shaikhs and subject to the greement of Tripp and Carden you should make the necessary arrangements to do this as soon as possible. the meantime we wi_startAcoking for suited person to last 29 the refereeld 3. I am sending a copy of this letter to Tripp at Dubai, Buckmaster at Abu Dhabi and Carden at Doha. RECEIVED IN DIVISION 25 MAR 1957 hond BY 23/3 DESPATCHED E.P 5!-8092
