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‘File 86/2 V (C 44) Bahrain Oil’ [‎112r] (239/712)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (355 folios). It was created in 23 Apr 1928-29 Aug 1933. It was written in English. 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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/
Gro ncu- ol coaplaint against Major Holmes#
lence in 1<* From August 1930 to August 1932 Major Holmes was
resident in Bahrein for periods which amounted in all to
about six months. Since that time he has been absent
on numerous occasions on matters unconnected with his
duties as the Company 's Ghiel' Local Representative in
Bahrein*
2» In April 1933 f4ajor Holmes submitted an
application by the Bahrein Petroleum Company for an
extension ol" the Company ^s prospecting licence in return
for increased payments and stated that the Company could
not hold their financial offer open for more than 30 days
from a certain date. Alter submittin, his proposals
Major Holmes left Bahrein for Egypt and Jedda. The
British 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. had thus no one in Bahrein with whom
to communicate on any points for discussion which might
arise from the proposals. Such points did arise and the
SheMi of Bahrein expressed surprise at "the absence of
Major Holmes from Bahrein during a discussion of such
importance"•
• In .ay 1933 Major Holmes returned to Bahrein
and al t.er interviewing the Sheikh produced certain further
proposals which he communicated to the British Political
Agent. He then again left Bahrein. Both the
circumstances surrounding the submission of the latter
proposals and the terms of the proposals themselves
called for discussion with Major Holmes, but he was still
absent iroia Bahrein at the end of June. Information
has, however, now been received that the Bahrein
Petroleum Company have recalled him to Bahrein.

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Content

The volume contains letters, telegrams and memoranda relating to ongoing exploratory oil drilling being undertaken in Bahrain by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (hereafter BAPCO). The volume is a direct continuation of ‘File 86/2 IV (C 43) Bahrain Oil; Eastern and General Syndicate Limited’ (IOR/R/15/1/652). The principal correspondents in the volume are Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Fowle, 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, 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 Bahrain, Captain Everald Gastrell, officiating 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 Bahrain during Loch’s absence, and various members of 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. , Colonial Office, and Petroleum and Mining Departments in London.

Key subjects discussed in the volume include:

  • BAPCO’s request for an extension of their prospecting license to 2 December 1934;
  • Questions over the award of a second concession covering the remainder of the Bahrain islands not included in BAPCO’s existing concession of 100,000 as-yet unspecified acres of territory; correspondence with representatives of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company with regard to this second concession;
  • British officials’ attempts to oust Major Frank Holmes from his position as Chief Local Representative for BAPCO in Bahrain, because of his perceived failure to fulfil contractual requirements as set out in the original concession agreement;
  • Recommendations with regard to Holmes’s position, provided by the British Government’s Treasury Solicitor, Sir Maurice Gwyer (folios 242-44);
  • News of Holmes’s dismissal as BAPCO’s Chief Local Representative, dated 26 August 1933 (folio 293).

Three maps are also included in the file, which were originally enclosed with a report that is mentioned in a letter contained in the volume (folio 203), although the report itself is not included. Map 1 (folio 333) shows the Bahrain islands with elevation data and the locations of BAPCO’s oil installations and infrastructures. Map 2 (folio 334) shows BAPCO’s roads, telephone and water lines, along with oil and water well locations. Map 3 (folio 335) is a site plan of BAPCO’s camp at Jebel Dukhan.

Extent and format
1 volume (355 folios)
Arrangement

The volume’s contents, which (with the exception of a single copy of correspondence) cover a period of less than two months, are not arranged in any particular order. There is a set of office notes at the end of the volume (folios 320-32).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: Foliation is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1A, and ends on inside of the back cover, on number 341.

Foliation anomalies: f 1 is followed by ff 1A-F; f 63 is followed by f 63A; f 72 is followed by f 72A; f 223 is followed by f 223A; f 235 is followed by f 235A; f 277 is followed by f 277A; f 294 is followed by f 294A-B; f 332 is followed by f 332A.

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‘File 86/2 V (C 44) Bahrain Oil’ [‎112r] (239/712), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/653, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023586524.0x000029> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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