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‘File 86/2 I (C 30) Bahrain Oil Concession (Eastern & General Syndicate)’ [30r] (76/661)
The record is made up of 1 volume (328 folios). It was created in 28 Aug 1925-8 Sep 1929. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
*11.
In this connectiQn there have occurred to me one or
two considerations wMch I "beg leave to put "before you.
I presume that though instructed "by the Colonial Office
to raise no objection on the partja of H.M.Government to the
conclmsion of an oil concession on the lines of the draft
agreement, there would be nothing to prevent my pointing out
clearly to the Sheikh the consequences which sire likely to
result from the grant of such a concession, and to advise
him purely from a Bahrain point of view.
Since I heard that Major Holmes was coming here definite-
-ly to conclmde an oil concession, I have had some misgiv-
-ings as to the effect that such a concession would have on
the welfare of Bahrain generally. At present the life of the
whole community is centred in the pearling industry, which
brings in either directly or indirectly a very comfortable
revenue to the State. This industry is however in the
course of reorganisation, and will require ^ery careful
handling for the next year or two before it is established
on a stable footing. Is it wise at this atage to introduce
into Bahrain a new industry such as oil, which if found in
commercial quantities is likely to rival ana even eclipse
the pearling industry, particularly if the latter is not
fully organised? Is there' not the danger of Bahrain and
also foreign divers giving up their old calling and engaging
themselves in the more lucrative and less.toilsome work of
employees in a flourishing oil concern? Is this not iikely
to be the"last straw" for Bahrain nakhudas already disgruntlei
by the few reforms now introduced in the pearling industry?
And finally, is there not the danger of diving nakhudas,and
possibly "Tajurs" too leaving Bahrain and forming a new
centre of the pearling industry in Debai or elsewhere? -
and then,one can imagine the oil peteringa out and leaving
Bahrain a - a sucked orange.!
I apologise for the above picture which is painted in
very black colours . j no ^ think things are likely to be
About this item
- Content
The volume contains letters, telegrams and memoranda relating to negotiations for the extension of Eastern & General Syndicate Limited’s (hereafter E&GS) concession for oil exploration in Bahrain. Correspondents in the volume include 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 Bahrain (chiefly Major Cyril Barrett, incumbent from September 1926 to April 1929), representatives of E&GS (including Major Frank Holmes and the Company Secretary, H. Adams), and various British Government officials in the Colonial Office.
Key subjects covered by the volume include:
- Fears on the part of British officials in 1925 to the prospects of the discovery of oil in Bahrain (folios 29-31), and resistance to the E&GS having signed a concession with the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah (folios 62-63);
- An application by E&GS in 1928 to extend their oil concession agreement (folios 110-11);
- Confusion over the terms of a new agreement, with particular reference to a new clause insisting that the E&GS would remain a British interest (folios 193-95, 206-10);
- Reports of American investment in E&GS (folios 196-98);
- Terms of the agreement between E&GS and the North American Gulf Oil Company (folios 217-50);
- Assignment of Gulf Oil’s option on the concession to the Standard Oil Company of California (folios 260-61);
- Negotiations between E&GS and the Colonial Office over the maintenance of British control over oil exploration funded by foreign investment in Bahrain (folios 277-86);
- Confirmation of the concession extension with the agreed terms over the extent of foreign (American) investment (folios 299-304).
The volume also contains copies of the numerous drafts of the oil concession, with its various modifications and amendments, including the original 1925 concession in English and Arabic (folios 79-97), and a draft copy of the 1928 agreement with additions inserted by a representative of the Government of Bahrain, presumably the Adviser to the Government, Charles Dalrymple-Belgrave (folios 156-75).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (328 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items at the front to the latest at the end. The office notes at the end of the file (folios 309-17) mirror the chronological arrangement.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: There is an incomplete foliation sequence and a complete foliation sequence. The complete sequence 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, and runs from 1 on the front cover, to 324 on the inside back cover. The following foliation anomalies occur: f.1 is followed by f.1a-f.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/649
- Title
- ‘File 86/2 I (C 30) Bahrain Oil Concession (Eastern & General Syndicate)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1ar:1fv, 2r:3v, 4v:26v, 27v:32v, 34v:36v, 37v:56v, 57v:59v, 60v:76v, 77v:100v, 101v:109v, 111v:112v, 114v, 132v:139v, 141v, 155v, 175v:183v, 184v:189v, 190v:205v, 210v:216v, 250v:259v, 261v:269v, 270v:276r, 277r:287r, 288r:304v, 305v:306r, 307r:323v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence