MIDDLE EAST DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, c/o BRITISH EMBASSY, BEIRUT. July 17, 1957.13 (2207/1/57) CONFIDENTIAL I enclose two copies of a report on the proposed Population Census in Qatar which has been prepared by the Economic Research Institute of the American University of Beirut at the request of the Government of Qatar. 2. The plan seems to me to be a reasonable one though it may prove difficult to collect all the information listed in the report. I am also not entirely satisfied of the necessity of the two types of schedule mentioned in section II of the report. The method of carrying out the Census set out in section IV of the report seems to be quite sound though it may be a little optimistic to hope that the preliminary cen sus could be completed in a fortnight. 1.2201 10 3. This plan has been submitted to the Government of Qatar and has, I understand, been approved by them. Unfortunately, as reported in my letter 2201/3/57 of July 11, Oswald will not be available to take charge of the project as had been originally intended. I hope, however, that it will be possible for another British statistician to be recruited in his place, as I have already suggested. 4. When I discussed the Census with Dr Badre, the Head of the Economic Research Institute, he said that he would like me to help them in planning and carrying out the Census and that he hoped I would be able to visit Qatar while the Census organisation was being set up to make sure that the work was proceeding on sound lines. As it is probable that I shall be visiting Bahrain in October, I could easily visit Qatar at the same time and I therefore agreed to give the Institute as much help as I was able. 5. I enclose a spare copy of the report which you may care to pass to the Central Statistical Office. I would be grateful for any comments and suggestions which they may have. 6. I am sending a copy of this letter with enclosure to the Residency, Bahrain and to H.M. Political Agent in Doha. (R.S. Porter) G.D. Lampen, Esq., C.M.G., C.B.E., Levant Department, Foreign Office,
