'File 38/15 Oil concessions in Arabia and the Gulf (Muscat)'

IOR/R/15/2/870

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The record is made up of 1 file (110 folios). It was created in 10 Jun 1933-1 Jan 1949. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

The file contains correspondence relating to the oil concession in Muscat, Oman, and Dhofar. The principal correspondents are: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire (later Bahrain) [ Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ]; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Muscat; the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Foreign Office, Sultan Said bin Taimur [Sa‘īd ibn Taymūr Āl Sa‘īd], the ruler of Muscat and Oman; and representatives of Petroleum Concessions Limited and its subsidiary, Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Limited.

Matters covered by the file include:

  • the ambition of Petroleum Development Concessions for the concession over Rub al-Khali, the desert region that spans the territories of Oman and Saudi Arabia;
  • Standard Oil's interest in the Muscat concession;
  • Lermitte's visit to Muscat in the summer of 1937 to discuss the agreement with the Sultan;
  • the suspension of oil operations during the Second World War;
  • the company's attempts to extend the period within which they have the option to drill by 2-5 years;
  • company plans to begin exploration in Oman during the winter of 1947/48;
  • and Richard Bird's dealings with the Al Bu Shamis tribe in Buraimi in March 1948.

Folios 3-7 is a memorandum produced by the Petroleum Department (of the British Government) giving an overview of the current situation regarding oil concessions in Arabia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Folios 9-19 is the record of a meeting between representatives from the Colonial Office, Foreign Office, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , Admiralty, Petroleum Department, and Indian Political Service The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. , held at the Colonial Office on 3 May 1933. The meeting covers similar topics to that of the memorandum above.

Folios 107-111 are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (110 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-91; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
Type
Archival file

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/R/15/2/870
Former external reference(s)
Confidential files: 38/15

History of this record

Date(s)
10 Jun 1933-1 Jan 1949 (CE, Gregorian)

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'File 38/15 Oil concessions in Arabia and the Gulf (Muscat)', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/870, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000139> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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