'Oil Concessions' [‎294r] (597/734)

[question) • Then informed of the conditions^'
rris ' 3 G-overnment would "be prexoared to advise the^ *
Sbai^ 1 Bahrein to agree to the participation of American
capital in the operation of t e Concession the represent-
a,tiv6 : -
>of the Syndicate were at first doubtful of their
afility to induce their America]?) friends to accept those
conditions.. After further discussion, however^ the
representatives of the Syndicate came round to the view
that the conditions proposed were on the whole not
unreasonable.
Mr. Janson and Major H&lmes considered that it
'would be difficult , if, indeed, not impossible,^ bo secure
the assent of their American friends to the suggestion
that the local General Manager and the whole of the local
staff, with certain exceptions to be agreed upon hetv/wen
the parties, should "be at all times British subjects or
subjects of the Sheikh of Bahrein, American oil magnates
had a very low opinion of British directing staff and
were likely to desire to employ American subjects as their
local technical staff. Their American friends attac ed
- such' importance to the retention in the hands of American
engineers of the control of the technical work to he
carried out in Bahrein that, although they might he
prepared to agree to the appointment of a British subject
as their local General Manager, they were unlikely to
1 agree that more than a small proportion of their local
technical staff should he British subjects. Insistence
j 0 n the acceptance of the conditi n proposed might result
in the refusal of their American friends to participate
|in the operation of the Qoncession with the result tnat
the oil resources of Bahrein would not at present he
ex Ploited. .ifter some discussion the representatives of
. tiie Syndicate agreed that if the condition in questi n
Question). Tnen informed of the condiwld
-isMajesty ,s G-overmaent would "be prepared to advise thev ■
Stiai^ of> Baiirei:n ' to agree to the participation of American
ca^itsil in the operation of t e Ooncession the represent
atives
of the Syndicate were at first donhtfu] of their
fility to induce t 1 eir America!^ friends to accept those
conditions.. After further discussion, however^ the
representatives of the Syndicate came round to the vie?/
that the conditions proposed were on the whole not
unreasonable.
Mr. Jans n and Major Holmes considered that it
would "be difficult , if,, indeed, not impossible, bo secure
the assent of their .American friends to the suggestion
that the local General Manager and the whole of the local
staff, with c ertain exceiotions to he agreed upon hetwwen
the parties, should he at all times British subjects or
subjects of the Sheikh of Bahrein. American oil magnates
had a very low opinion of British directing staff and
were likely to desire to employ American subjects as .their
local technical staff. Their American friends attac ed
such" importance to the retention in the hands of American
engineers of the control of the technical work to he
carried out in Bahrein that, although they might he
prepared to agree to the appointment of a British subject
as their local General Manager, they were unlikely to
agree that more than a small proportion of their local
technioal staff should be British subjects. Insistence
on the acceptance of the conditi n proposed might result
in the refusal of their American friends to participate
in the operation of the Ooncession with the result that
tne oil resources of Bahrein would not at present oe
ex Ploited. \fter some discussion the representatives o/
tlie Syndicate agreed that if the condition in questi n
"be amended by the omission of the words " tne w- ol.e
of the local staff with certain exceptions to be agreed
u 2on "between the parties", and the insertion in lieu of
tjrie words " as many of the local staff as is consistent
the efficient carrying out of the undertaking" they
ou ld do their utmost to induce their American friends
f