‘File 28/35 Denial programme Qatar’ [216r] (436/746)
The record is made up of 1 file (365 folios). It was created in 5 Jun 1935-31 Dec 1943. It was written in English and Arabic. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
TRANSLATION
lEtii Jamad Awal '62*
From: Abdulla bin Q,aalm al Thani.
To: Tha Manager, P*D,Q., Bahrain.
While we were expecting jour replj in respect of
the method of sending the annual concession payments, accord
ing to your conversation with Shaikh Hamad and your previous
letter, I received today your letter dated the 9th May 1943.
I was very much surprised at the arrangements made in
respect of the above payments which have been credited to
our account with the Eastern Bank. This action seems a
violation and I never thought that this will happen from you.
You know that no arrangement can be made without my agree
ment and there is no Article in the conditions of the
Concession which allows you to do anything without my agree
ment.
Hamed has explained to you in conversation between you
for what purpose the silver coins are required and told you
that we are in great need of them and the time of their use
has come. Then you discussed the matter of transporting
them (the coins) either from Bahrain to Doha or via Zekrit.
Hamed preferred the last (mentioned). After that you asked
us in your previous letter to make the arrangements for
receiving them (the coins) and we informed you in our letter
that all the arrangements have been made and that our repres
entative will take the responsibility of delivering them
(the coins) direct to Riyan. On this we expected information
from you. Finally you inform us of the arrangements which
have already been made. Is not this a strange thing ? We
never expected this will happen from you* This action is
displeasing to us and not in accordance with what we agreed
on. We now neither accept this nor agree to it. We inform
you that we are in need of the Concession payments in coins
to dispose of them in the ways told you by Hamed.
We are returning herewith your documents sent from the
Bank which are completely unacceptable, and we do not agree
on such a matter. We clearly declare that we are displeased
with this matter that has happened.
(Sealed) Abdulla bin Qasim al Thani
About this item
- Content
The volume contains copies of letters, agreements and other papers relating to the temporary cessation in 1942 of oil operations undertaken by Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited (PDQ) in Qatar, in response to events in the Second World War, and negotiations over an agreement between the Ruler of Qatar and 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 for the cessation of operations, and continued payment of the concession and other costs. The volume’s principal correspondents are 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 (Edward Birkbeck Wakefield, superseded by Major Tom Hickinbotham in October 1943); the Manager of PDQ (Ernest Vincent Packer, also in the file as chief correspondent for Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL)); the Ruler of Qatar (Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī).
The volume includes:
- a telegraphic instruction from the Under Secretary of State for India, dated 19 June 1942, informing of the Commander-in-Chief Middle East’s decision to plug all oil wells in Qatar and suspend drilling operations, ‘for reasons connected with the War Effort’ (f 10);
- a copy of a report marked Most Secret, detailing the oil denial proposals for PDQ’s operations in Qatar, prepared by Major E Boaden of the Royal Engineers, and dated 23 May 1942 (ff 19-20);
- correspondence dated June to July 1942, relating to the plugging and junking of oil wells in the Qatar oil field, and evacuation of oil and water supply equipment, under orders received by the Tenth Army (ff 45-53, ff 67-69);
- correspondence relating to arrangements to transfer oil drilling equipment from Qatar to Karachi;
- correspondence between PDQ/PCL, 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, and the Ruler of Qatar, relating to the protracted negotiation of terms for the suspension of oil operations in Qatar, chiefly concerning: retention and pay of guards to protect oil company property; salaries for the Ruler of Qatar’s representatives and the Director of Customs at Zekrit [Zikrīt, also referred to in correspondence as Zekhrit]; rent of the oil company’s house (Company House) in Doha [occasionally referred to as Dohah], and employment of servants; supply and use of the Company’s ice machine, water pump; provision of communications between Doha and Dukhan; maintenance of a launch between Zekrit and Bahrain;
- correspondence relating to the method of continued concession payments to the Ruler of Qatar: chiefly in the form of discussion over whether the payments should be in silver rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , preferred by the Ruler but potentially difficult to supply, or in paper currency through the Eastern Bank Limited;
- multiple copies of the draft agreement of terms between the Ruler of Qatar and 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;
- correspondence dated October and November 1943 relating to arrangements for 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. in Bahrain to visit Doha and the Ruler of Qatar, in order to conclude the suspension of operations agreement;
- a copy of the original agreement between the Ruler of Qatar and 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, dated 23 November 1943, setting out payments and facilities to be provided by PDQ during the suspension of operations in Qatar (in English and Arabic, with the latter signed by the Ruler of Qatar and Major Tom Hickinbotham, ff 336-338).
While the volume’s correspondence begins in in May and June 1942, an extract of an earlier letter from 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. , dated 5 June 1935 (f 6) provides the earlier date indicated in this catalogue entry’s date range.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (365 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the volume (ff 350-368) mirror the chronological arrangement.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 371; 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 incomplete foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 163-349; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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‘File 28/35 Denial programme Qatar’ [216r] (436/746), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/729, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025797599.0x000025> [accessed 24 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/729
- Title
- ‘File 28/35 Denial programme Qatar’
- Pages
- 65r:66v, 99r:99v, 216r:216v
- Author
- Petroleum Concessions Limited
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact copyright@bl.uk with any information you have regarding this item.