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'CONFIDENTIAL 86/7-I B.34. OIL TRUCIAL COAST' [‎46r] (96/550)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (271 folios). It was created in 26 May 1935-4 Dec 1935. It was written in English, Arabic and Persian. 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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Prom •••The Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
H.M.S."SHOREHAM" at Debai.
Date 20th July 1935. No. 30/S17.
$o Tbe Honoura"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. .
(Copy to:- 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. , Bahrain.)
During the exchange of calls with the ShaiKh of
AIdu DhaM on 18th July 1935, the latter mentioned the
prospect of finding artesian water and/or oil in his
shailtfidom. The following account of the conversations is
forwarded, at the shaiKh's request, for your information.
S.- At first the shaiKh wished to Know the relative
merits of the geologist at Kishm and Mr.Cox, who visited
Abu Dhahi last December. On hearing that they were "both
considered to he good experienced men, he then asKed
whether they compared with the American geologists who
found oil at Bahrain. On this point he was reassured.
3.- The ShaiKh then went on to deal with events in
this connection at Ahu Dhahi, He explained how Mr.Cox
( advised him that artesian water might he found at 200 feet
and said that"later he had a visit from Idr.Williamson who
pr edicted 100 0 feet, and assured the shaikh that his
Company wouTd drill for him.
4.- It appears that this change of opinion did not
impress the shaikh who seems to have felt that it was
merely a clumsy attempt on the part of the Company to
carry out test drilling for oil. He said that if water
was available at both levels, he v /ould employ a contractor
to drill to 200 feet first. In fact, throughout the
interview, the Shaikh demonstrated clearly that he was no
fool where his possible financial interests were concerned.
5.- About this stage, it seems that two letters from
MajorHolmes of the Kuwait Oil Comfiany reached Abu Dhabi.
TBelattsr, In a straightforward manner v/hich appears to
have favourably impressed the ShaiKh, said he thought there
was a chance of finding oil in Abu Dhabi territory, that
if the shaiKh agreed he would send a geologist, and also
mentioned that he was experienced in Gulf oil having found
the deposits in Bahrain and Nejd. Major Holmes also
informed the ShaiKh that he was prepared to come to Abu
Dhabi

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Content

The volume contains correspondence between 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. (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch), 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. at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), 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. (Maurice Clausen, John Charles Walton) and Edward Henry Ommaney Elkington, General Manager of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (also referred to by their former name Anglo-Persian Oil Company) about options and concessions to explore for oil on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .

The volume discusses negotiations being undertaken by Hajji 'Abdullah Williamson on behalf of the D'Arcy Exploration Group (part of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company) with Shaikh Sultan ibn Salim [Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Ras al Khaimah [Ra's al Khaymah], Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah and Shaikh Said bin Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm], Ruler of Dibai [Dubai] which resulted in the group securing two year options to explore for oil in those territories. Also discussed is the possibility of pursuing options to explore for oil in Ajman and Umm al Qaiwaim [Umm al-Qaywayn], and negotiations for a two year option in Abu Dhabi which is unsuccessful.

Other matters discussed in the volume include:

Other correspondents in the volume include the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Captain Vernon Saumarez Butler); and the British Vice-Consul at Mohammerah (also given as Khoramshahr) (Frederick Charles Leslie Chauncy) who relays correspondence and information relating to Persia, Iraq and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

The correspondence from the various Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Shaikhs is in Arabic, with translations in English, and the letter-head for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company is in Persian and English.

A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 254-268.

Extent and format
1 volume (271 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume. There is a table of contents on folio 4 which lists subjects discussed in the volume and the page references for them.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-272; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English, Arabic and Persian in Latin and Arabic script
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'CONFIDENTIAL 86/7-I B.34. OIL TRUCIAL COAST' [‎46r] (96/550), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/671, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024249441.0x000061> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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