File 10/5 II Hasa oil: CASOC's activities in Hasa; development of Ras Tannura; Political Agent's visit to Hasa [‎96r] (206/656)

.3.7207/38*
601 <.>/ S5 } •
Ho#2009/84/53.
British uegation,
Jedda,
Saudi Arabia,
15th Septeinber f 1930.
S
My dear .uacy.
Many thani^s for your letter No.E.4981/438/25 of
August 25th. about the establishment of Gray Maokenai© and
Company as O.A.S.O.C. *s agents, at Bas Taiiura,
I had previously heard something about tiiis question
from Weightnan who sent us a copy of his letter to Peel of
"-"f* 14
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. Ko. 1). 0. G/547 or August 17th. But so far
Mr.O.W.R. Smith has not turned up here, and I thorou^jhly agree
with Bullard that it would not he of much use if he did.
Ho doubt there are a good many Saudi interests tiio
are trying to scrounge a penny or two out of C.A.S.0,C., so
the firm must walk warilyi
even if 0.A. S. 0. G. the-iselves
were
for the services of the British firm I doubt whether
such a request would turn the scale. The only thing to do is to
try to get through the smoke screen of hungry Arab contractors
and explain matters to the King* 1 trust that Wills*s enquiries
via the Minister in .London have enabled him to do this.
You will have seen that the Saudi Arabian Government
returned a civil answer to my note about the services of the
Royal Indian Navy in buoying the channel to Ras Tanora, so I
feel sure the fling is grateful about oir help in this matters
one of his great sorrows at the time of the Hendel visit was
not having an outlet on the Gulf, so I trust he feele we have
helped him a bit towards the removal of tfoat. particular
grouse-
Yours ever.
Sgd. Alan.
«i«.Baa
OSQ.,
PORSIGII office.