IOR/L/PS/12/3816

The file contains correspondence between the India Office and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, concerning the terms of the treaty of 1916 between the British Government and Qatar.

The papers discuss the fact that the 1916 treaty was not made binding on the Shaikh of Qatar's heirs and successors, which was particularly important by 1934, given the negotiations over a Qatar oil concession; and concerns over how easy it would be to make revisions to the treaty. The omission is described as an 'oversight' on the part of the British Government. Also discussed is the question of the recognition of an heir apparent, and the definition of British jurisdiction in Qatar. The Political Resident also reports a request from the Shaikh of Qatar for permission to import in excess of his annual quota of 500 rifles, and permission to purchase machine guns and armoured cars. The British were prepared to concede the former, but not the latter.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.