File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [‎264r] (93/338)

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* 31 DEC 1910
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[ Confidential.']
No. 3121, dated 23rd November (received 6 th December) 1910.
From— Lieutenant-Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I. 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. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In continuation of my letter No. 3091, dated 19th November 1910, I
have the honour to forward, for the
information of the Government of India,
copies of further correspondence which
has passed on the subject of the Oil Com
pany’s proposed boring operations
Muhammerah territory.
my
(1) Consul Muhammerah to Resident, letter
No. 1265, dated 9th November 1910.
(2) Consul Muhammerah to Minister, telegram
No. 79, dated 10th November 1910.
(3) Minister to Resident, telegram No. 243,
dated 16th November 1910.
in
No. 1265, dated Muhammerah, the 9th November 1910.
From— Lieutenant A. T. Wilson, I.A., His Majesty’s Acting Consul for Arabistan,
To—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. , Bushire.
I have the honour to refer to the marginally cited correspondence
„ „1 „
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. telegram No. 621 of 10th June
1910.
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. letter No. 2647 of 2nd October 1910
to Foreign Department (copy sent to Tehran).
Muhammerah Consulate letter No. 1212 of
28th October 1910.
on the
Anglo-
to bore
this
in
subject of the proposal of the
Persian Oil Company, Limited,
for oil at Ahwaz, and to forward
connection a copy of further communica
tion dated November 8 th, which I have
received from the Managing Agents of
the Company on the subject, together with a copy of my letter in reply
thereto.
2. It will he seen that the Company, in violation of the second part of
Article 3 of their concession, propose to start work in the Shaikh’s lands,
without committing the Company to any specific promises to the Shaikh, and
to temporise with him in the matter of terms, and in fact deceive him, with
the object of enabling them to bring pressure to bear on him from Tehran.
Sooner than accede to such terms as this granted to the Bahhtiari Khans, they
would, if necessary, abandon all idea of drilling in the Shaikh’s territory, a
course, I need hardly add, which would meet with the enthusiastic concurrence
of His Excellency, who is by no means anxious to see any more of the Oil
Company’s activities than he does already.
3. I have submitted a detailed statement of the Shaikh’s position in the
matter in the correspondence cited above, which came under review in your
letter No. 2647 of 2nd October to the Government of India. It seems therefore
unnecessary for me to discuss the subject further, and I would beg that I may
receive instructions as to the attitude that I should adopt in the matter, as I
can scarcely doubt that the Shaikh will not permit any work to be done by
them in the said lands until the Company has concluded an agreement with
him, as provided for in Article 3 of their concession.
4 I have forwarded copies of this communication, together with copies
of my No. 1212 of 28th October, and of the Shaikh’s farman for the Ahwaz '
lands to His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
Extract — Translation.
The Government grants also to the concessionaire the right to acquire
all other lands or buildings necessary for the same object, with
the consent of the proprietors, on terms which shall be arranged
between him and them, without the latter being allowed to raise
claims of a nature to surcharge the price ordinarily current for
the lands situated in their respective localities.”