'F 83 File 82/27-II QATAR OIL' [‎211r] (437/630)

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6.
not come into force until the consent of H.M.G. had been
obtained to its provisions.. Such a clause merely reaffirms d the
Slieildi's existing treaty obligations and ought not therefore to
cause difficulty vdth him. Vis-a-vis the Company it would
empiiasise the special position of H.M.G. in the matter.
Mr. Rendel added that in his view it ^ould be desirable
that the conditions to be laid down, in respect of British control
and exploitation of any concession, in whatever form they might
emerge as a result of discussion by higher authority, and if
necessary of reference to the Cabinet, should be conditions
which would apply not merely to a British concessionaire but to
any other Company, of whatever nationality, which might endeavour
to secure a concession in Qatar. We had not yet thought out
in detail at what conditions it would be desirable to aim, the
questions involved were difficult and would need careful
consideration, and it might therefore be impossible at once to
inform the A.P.O.G. what precisely the conditions would oe. iiat
so long as their general outline could be communicated to the
Company without delay, and the Company given to understand tnat
whatever detailed conditions were finally laid down would be of
universal application, it ought considerably to reduce their
difficulties in negotiating either with the SheiMi or with the
I.P.C.
Mr. Seal said that, so far as he could judge, the
Admiralty on the understandings stated by Mr• Rendel, Wvr^
unlikely to object to the procedure suggested. He thought that
it ms essential that the main lines of the agreement with
should be ccrumunicated to the Company in the. ve 4 ry neat .wut-u
in order to avoid any suggestion that the Company had ~een
allowea to proceed with the commercial agreement with the Sheikh
011 false pretences; also that if any difficult/ were
experienced/