ملف 10/1 VIII امتياز نفط البحرين [و‎‎٨‎٩] (٥٥٥/٢٠٥)

I
(1 o nfj, 010 ^
p.Z. 2940/34.
| ^ NOTE Ox' AW INTERVIEW WITH Mi. BALLANTTNE, BAiffiAIN
PETROLEUM COMPANY, REGARDING APPOINTMENT OP CHIEF
LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE, ON END MAY, 1934.
\c\^ {y>
The concurrence ol the interested Departiiients having
been olDtained in action on the lines suggested in the Political
Resident's express letter of 8th April, NofG,193, I asked
Mr, Ballantyne to call to discuss the position in regard to the
Chief-Local Representative.
2. I said to Mr, Ballantyne that as he probatly
have inferred from previous informal discussions on this
subject we had ourselves, subject to any reports we should
receive from the Gulf been rather inclined to think that the
best solution might be as a special case, and with the proviso
that in our view the Chief Local Representative ought normally
to be a British subject, to confirm Mr. Skinner, but to require
that the acting vacancy created by Mr. Skinner's forthcoming
long leave should be filled by a British subject. The
Political Resident had subsequently intimated that the Sheikh
expressed a definite preference for a British subject, and after
further personal discussion of the matter with His Excellency
had now informed us that the Sheikh held to his view, which was
shared by the remainder of the ruling family. The Resident had
added that while Mr. Skinner was personally acceptable, it would
clearly be most impolitic to force an American on the Sheikh
and would have an unfortunate effect on local public opinion.
He had suggested in these circumstances thau lir. Russell of the
Mesopotamia Persia Corporation might be employed. Arrangements
could as a special case, and by way of meeting the Company, be
made for the Political Agent to discuss matters direct with the
Fields/