'File 10/1 (Vol III). Oils and Minerals. Bahrain Oil Concession.' [‎9r] (30/462)

On the morning of the 4th July 1933 Mr.Ghisholm came to
see me lay appointment. He said that he proposed,if there was
not objection,to go to see the Shaikh and afterwards Mr.
Belgrave to say that with reference to the letter which Mr.
Sampson had sent > hiB Company were interested but could not
give a definite decision as to whether they would like to
compete for the remaining area in Bahrain,until after a
Company meeting and they would prefer to defer any further
representation for a month. /
2. Mr.Chisholm asked whether he should confirm this in
writing to the Shaikh and Myself. I said that on the whole it
was better to confine himself to a verbal a^iwcrsati on. I
£
understand that he is going to confirm the conversation of this
morning in writing to me. He enquired whether he should inform
Mr.BeIgrave/and I said that it was^ desirable that he should do
so. I explained that he should not write to the Shaikh as any
communication of that sort should come through me.
3. I took some pains to make clear the position of 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. in the matter of the Oil,that is to say,that
the Shaikh had come to us for advice over the matter of oil
and that it was not a question of the British representative
and a British firm in collaboration doing all they could to
push a British interest as against an American firm and an
American representative,but that in the peculiar circumstances
in 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. was in a position of holding
the ring,
4. Mr,Chisholm asked what the area of Bahrain was and I said
that it was not quite accurately known,but probably in the
vicinity of 150,000 acres. He asked if this included shallow
waters and I said that he was there trespassing on difficult
questions,
5. Mr.Chisholm told me that Mr.Sampson and Haji Williamson
havk left. Mr.Sampson going to Basrah where they are to have
a meeting in connection with C^atar on his (Mr.Chisholm's) return
6. Mr.Ghisholm mentioned the matter of credentials and I said