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File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [265r] (95/338)
The record is made up of 1 item (168 folios). It was created in Apr 1909-Jul 1919. It was written in English. 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.
Oil Company told me on 8 th November that they decline to make arrange -
ment with Shaikh to bore for oil in the lands owned by him at Ahwaz. They
intend starting work there without making any definite promises, and if Shaikh
raises objections they will at once cease operations and appeal to Central
Government at Tehran.
They decline to come to any friendly ar rangement such as Mr. Lloyd
promised to the Shaikh in 1909.
Pending instructions from Your Excellency I have warned Company I
cannot support them in their proposed action, which I consider opposed to
Article 3 clause 2 of Mr. D’Arcy’s Concession, and ill calculated to forward
their interests in this province, and that any action they may take in the
matter will he on their sole responsibility. That the Shaikh will refuse per
mission to them to operate in his lands till they have made an agreement with
him scarcely admits of doubt. Agreement would probably be on lines of that
of the Company with Bakhtiari with the omission of provisions for payments
to guards and compensation for lands and crops.
Primd facie Shaikh would appear to he justified should he do so.
I request instructions in due course from Your Excellency as to the
attitude I should take up in the matter. My despatch 98 of 9th November
contains full details. I have sent a copy of the foregoing to Bushire by post
to-day.
Telegram P. dated the 15th (received 16th) November 1910.
From—His Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—Political Resident, Bushire.
No. 213. With reference to Consul Muhammerah’s despatches Nos. 723
and 906.
I have sent the following telegram, No. 469, to the Foreign Office.
“ Lieutenant Wilson has been informed by the Oil Company that they
intend to bore for oil in Shaikh Khazal’s territory without making any pre
vious agreement with him, the Company maintaining that the second para
graph of Article 3 of their Concession applies only to works mentioned in
Article 2. The Company intend, if the Shaikh objects, to stop work and claim
compensation from the Persian Government; there is no doubt that the
Shaikh will object.
For the Legation to support such a claim would clearly be impolitic as it
would compel the Persian Government to try and coerce the Shaikh.
I beg to suggest that the Company be informed that we could not support
their claim and moreover in their own interest they would be well advised to
defer boring till some agreement w r ith the Shaikh has been arrived at.
It is manifestly to the Company’s interest for them to retain the Shaikh’s
goodwill, whether the Company are warranted in their interpretation of para
graph 2 Article 3 or not. The Company has been informed by the Consul
that if they commence boring operations without the Shaikh’s concurrence it
must be on their sole responsibility as he considers their action would be
contrary to their Concession (Article 3).
In any case Company should defer action until you receive despatches
from Colonel Cox and Lieutenant Wilson which I have forwarded by post.
They should reach you about the 28th instant.”
CALCUTTA : PRINTED BY SCPDT. GOVT. PRINTING, INDIA, 8, HASTINGS STREET-
About this item
- Content
Part 3 consists of correspondence relating to an agreement between the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and Shaikh Khazal-Bin-Jaber [Khaz‘al bin Jābir bin Mirdāw al-Ka‘bī] of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr]. The correspondence is mostly between the Government of India (Foreign Department), Foreign Office, and 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. . Included as enclosures are letters, telegrams, and memoranda from the following:
- Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary;
- British Minister to Persia, Tehran;
- representatives of Anglo-Persian Oil Company;
- Percy Zachariah Cox, 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. ;
- Shaikh Khazal of Mohammerah;
- Messrs Lloyd, Scott, and Co., agents of Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Mohammerah;
- Persian government officials;
- Arnold Talbot Wilson, Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia.
Several matters are covered by the papers, including:
- the negotiations over a loan to Shaikh Khazal by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for the use of land on Abadan Island for an oil refinery;
- the question of what is to be done with company buildings on the island when the concession period ends;
- the nature of Shaikh Khazal's rights to the land in question;
- the Persian Government's exceptions to some of the terms of the agreement;
- the question of guards for the refinery and who will pay for them.
- Extent and format
- 1 item (168 folios)
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [265r] (95/338), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/144/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030500368.0x00008b> [accessed 12 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/144/1
- Title
- File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.'
- Pages
- 218r:242v, 243v:246v, 247v:255r, 256v:257r, 258v:264r, 265r:267v, 269v:271r, 272v:273v, 275v:278r, 280r:282r, 283v:284v, 285v:293r, 294r, 295v:315r, 316r:316v, 319v:325v, 328r:328v, 329v:331v, 332v, 333v:336v, 337v:338v, 339v:340v, 341v:347v, 349r:349v, 351v, 353v:358v, 362r:382v, 384v:386v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence