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'File 38/15 Oil concessions in Arabia and the Gulf (Muscat)' [‎48r] (95/224)

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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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Telegrams: "HOLMES" SHARJAH
at/Dubai, May 1937
Dear Major Watti*
I have to thank you for telegram
of the 1st instant, to which I have replied through
the 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. Agent of Sharjah on the evening of 5th,
instant.
Muscat 1937/C. In this Draft is embodied all the latest
suggestions of the Hon f ble 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. in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
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. and reached me recently via the London
Office of the Petroleum Concessions Limited,
the Muscat Draft Concession, apart from the one that
accompanies this letter.
The first Draft I sentryou by a
messenger direct, the second Draft by the Political
Resident when on his v/ay to India, the third is the
present Draft now sent through Messrs, Gray Mackenzie’s
Agent. If you could return the first and second Draft
to me through Messrs. Gray Mackenzie f s Agent as early
possible by the next steamer calling at Dubai, I will
arrange/to have the Drafts brought up to date.
require any that are not now up to date. Muscat 1937/C.
is now the Official Copy.
I hope to be through with my work
here and able to come to Muscat at the end of May.
How I am enclosing a copy of Draft
These suggestions first made to the
I think that you have two copies of
I am short of printed copies, so
I remain.
Copy to :
The Hon’ble the P.R
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Sir,
Your obedient servAxit f
Major R. P. Watts.
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. & H.B.M’s Consul,
Muscat.

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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
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'File 38/15 Oil concessions in Arabia and the Gulf (Muscat)' [‎48r] (95/224), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/870, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025657240.0x000060> [accessed 28 April 2024]

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