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'File 82/1 II (F 53) A.P.O.C., and Oil Concession - Arab Coast' [‎273r] (551/576)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (286 folios). It was created in 10 May 1923-9 Jan 1924. 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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Serial No. 31. —Confidential letter from the Hon'ble Lieut.-Col, A.
P. Trevor, C.S.I., C.I.E., 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. ,
No. 402 -S., dated Bushire, the 2 nd (received 14th) June 1922.
Reported seepage of oil in Oman.
With reference to the correspondence ending with Foreign and Poli
tical Department, endorsement No. 497/107-Ext., regarding the desire oi
the Anglo-Persian Oil Company to obtain exclusive prospecting rights on
the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Gulf of Oman, I have the honour
to forward herewith for the information of the Government of India, a copy
of a letter No. 25-C., dated 19th May 1922, from 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. Muscat,
statins: that the Sultan has informed him of a reported show of oil in the
Southern part of the Gulf of Masirah, and further that His Highness has
ha4 the report verified as far as it can be done by an uneducated and in
expert Arab.
2. Prom what Major Rae says it seems almost certain that a seepage
exists at the place mentioned. I do not know if the Geological Survey of
India would have sufficient data regarding the^ region to enable them to give
any opinion as to the chances of obtaining oil in paying quantities. The
neighbourhood of Masirah is a wild and savage country, and on more than
one occasion, as the Government of India are aware, the crews of wrecked
steamers have been maltreated in that region. There is no doubt however
that the inhabitants consider themselves within the dominions of the Sultan
of Muscat, and that they have nothing to do with the more or less autonomous
Omanis inhabiting the country to the West and North-West of Muscat, ihe
report of the Sultan's emissary that the natives do not mention the show of
oil as they do not want interference is quite probable, and I fancy they would
do their best to discourage prospectors and exploiters, who would have to be
in a position to protect themselves.
3, However since there seems little doubt that a show of oil exists, it
seems advisable to take steps that the future exploitation of it (if necessary)
should be done by British interests. On the other hand it seems unlikely
that the negotiations with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company regarding a
prospecting license for Oman will be settled for some time. I venture there
fore to suggest that 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. should be authorized to negotiate
with the Sultan an agreement regarding oil in his territories similar to the
conventions made by the Sheikhs of Kuwait and Bahrain, or on the lines of
the Sur Coal Agreement of 31st May 1902 (No. LXIX, page 242, Aitchison
Vol. XII). An agreement on either of these lines would protect British
interests, and, as there is now so much competition for oil all over the world,
the sooner, in my opinion, an agreement is made, the better. I would there
fore suggest that, as the Sultan will not return to M^uscat until December
next, 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. may be authorized to negotiate one with His High
ness the Sultan, if possible, while on recess in India.
Enclo. to Serial No. 31. —Confidential letter from Major M. E. Rae,
I.A. j 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. and H. B. M.'s Consul, Muscat, to the
Hon'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. , Bushire,
No, 25-C., dated Muscat, the 19th May 1922.
Oil in Muscat Territory.
I have the honour to say that information has been received which seems
reliable that there is an oil show near the coast in the southern part of the
Gulf of Masirah. The information was given me by H. H. the Sultan who
had sent a man specially to verify the information as far as an uneducated
and inexpert Arab could do. ' The messenger has reported that oil does show

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Content

The volume contains correspondence and telegrams between the Political Department, the Colonial Office and the Secretary of State at 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. in London, 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, the Political Agents at Kuwait and Muscat, local rulers, Anglo Persian Oil Company (APOC) and Eastern and General Syndicate Limited representatives on the negotiations for oil concessions in Kuwait, Bahrain, Nejd [Najd, Jubail, Saudi Arabia], Qatar, Muscat, Oman and Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .

The volume includes documents regarding:

Extent and format
1 volume (286 folios)
Arrangement

The documents in the volume are arranged in chronological order. There is an index at the beginning of the volume, on folio 3.

Physical characteristics

The main foliation is in pencil, encircled, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. The numbering begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1, then 2-63; 64A and 64B; 65-195; 196A and 196B and it carries on to the last folio, ending on 284. There is another foliation sequence, which is incomplete.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 82/1 II (F 53) A.P.O.C., and Oil Concession - Arab Coast' [‎273r] (551/576), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/619, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023833827.0x000084> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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