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'Vol-B.44. Confidential 86/7-vii. P.C.L. TRUCIAL COAST' [‎154r] (312/404)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (198 folios). It was created in 26 May 1937-9 Aug 1937. 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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oi tiM Truciai fciiiaiiUis aIXI clash as betwoon themsclve^
ana as between one or more of them ana Muscat, e*g. B&raimi,
to which the bultan lays claim, but tney need not be gone
Into for the moment*
It seems to me therefore that the first step is
for you and Watts to wor* out respectively from the Trucial
Coast Shaikhs, and from the buitan, what part of the hinter-
^ lane is claiu*ed by them respectively, wit a the grounds for
their claims. This first step ought not to take very long
as it is merely a case of the parties concerned putting up
their claims, anu does not involve any inspection of the
areas nor, at this stare, of reconciling rival claims.
The next step would be to test how uuch area tne
True!ri Coast Shaikhs effectively control. It seems to me
that no amount or examination can clear up this point, wnrch
can only be ascertained by test cases. X think therefore
that some area, Y, to which the Company wish to senu an
exploration party should be chosen. The Truci&I Shaikh in
whose territory Y was situatea woula in his capacity of
overlorc aocress the petty bhairJh, X, to the effect that
exploration party was visiting it. bhouid X make no difficult
ies well ana good. If not, it woulc. be up to the Trucial
Coast bhaikh either by force, bribery, or diplomacy, or ail
combined, to br-^ng X round, from the bhaikh , s point of
view it woula be decidealy to his advantage to have Y area
explored, ana he eoula bribe bhelkh X by offering him
either a substantial present from the money ne had received
from tne Compaii^ or by promising him a percentage of tne
royalties if oil were subsequently found in Y area.
5. The above procedure may seem somewhat tortuous,
ana will of course take time, but I think it is tne best in
the circumstances, ana until we know how things from the
ae facto point of view stand in the hinterland it woula be
-/better

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Content

The volume primarily consists of 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); 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 (Tom Hickinbotham); the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Sharjah (Khan Sahib Abd ‘al-Razzaq) 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. (John Charles Walton, Maurice Clauson) and Petroleum Concessions Limited (Frank Holmes, Basil Henry Lermitte, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, Frederick Lewisohn); the main subject of discussion is the negotiations between the Shaikh Sultan bin Saqar [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Sharjah and Major Frank Holmes, negotiator for Petroleum Concessions Limited.

The correspondence discusses the negotiations for a commercial concession in Sharjah, which are concluded in the beginning of July 1937 with the Shaikh agreeing to sign the concession; and his subsequent concern over the Political Agreement and Exchange of Notes relating to the concession agreement.

Also discussed in connection with concession agreements is a letter drafted by 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. which contained an ultimatum to be used should any Shaikh appear to be holding out in negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) with the intention of opening negotiations instead with the Standard Oil Company of California. The ultimatum stated that should the Shaikh in question not wish to give his concession to PCL, he would not be permitted to negotiate with or grant a concession to, any other company. The ultimatum was issued to the Shaikh’s of Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaiwain.

Further correspondence relates to PCL’s interest in exploring the territory west of the Oman mountain range and the subsequent discussion regarding which rulers claimed responsibility over the territory, whether they had actual authority there or whether it was in the hands of local shaikhs, and how PCL should approach exploring there in those circumstances.

The correspondence includes a detailed assessment by 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, Tom Hickinbotham, of the areas in question and outlines what he knows of the areas of the tribes that claimed ownership including the Beni Kitab [Beni Qitab] (also given as Beni Chittab); Naim [Āl Na‘īm], Bu Shamis [Āl Bū Shāmis] and Duroor [Al-Durur] as well as outlining where he believed the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi and Sultan of Muscat’s areas of authority to be. The correspondence concludes by recommending that the Company be persuaded to delay their explorations into this territory until the following year in order to permit 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. and Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent to spend the winter visiting and exploring these areas in order to ascertain a more accurate knowledge of the situation.

Other matters discussed in the volume include:

Correspondence with the 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 English and Arabic; letters from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company contain Persian and English letterheads.

A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 191-196.

Extent and format
1 volume (198 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a table of contents on folio 4 consisting of subject headings and page references. The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

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 5-190; 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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'Vol-B.44. Confidential 86/7-vii. P.C.L. TRUCIAL COAST' [‎154r] (312/404), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/677, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025313702.0x000071> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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