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File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [‎320r] (205/338)

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. .

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any pronouncement upon the question in their agreement; much less could they
commit Government to father it. y
I reminded the Sheikh that I had undertaken to discuss this and other
Representations of h,s wtth the Minister, and that I would do so, but that it was
useless and unreasonable for him to expect to dispose of the question in the
way he now sought to do. .
i r As re £ ards 0 "). Sheikh Khazal from the first assumed the attitude which
I feared he would, and insisted on the insertion of a clear undertaking that the
buildings should revert to the Sheikh or his lineal heirs ” or words to that
effect. He was extremely heated on this point, and argued it excitedly for a
very long time. It proved useless telling him that the buildings would be
evacuated and left, and that he knew whether the Persian Government would be
in a position to take them or not; or, that the present Agreement would probably
be seen at some time by the Persian Government and that, apart from the fact
that the Company were quite unable to insert the clause he wanted, even if they
were able it would be extremely shortsighted on his part to insert in the Agree
ment a clause like that suggested, to which the Persian Government would at
once take exception. 1 he Sheikh would not be persuaded and said that sooner
than leave the matter in doubt he would much prefer to insert the clause and let
the Persian Government see it now and do their worst. I did not, however take
him at his word, and said that if he could not alter that view we would reserve
the point for a private discussion.
He dropped the demand in his final interview with me on my undertakiug
to give him the separate assurance, in terms of which I attach a copy, backed
by the threat to which I shall presently allude. He would not be put off with
any ambiguous language, and his ultimate argument was that unless he could
be reasonably assured he would not consent to the Company erecting any build
ings at all but would erect them himself. This latter arrangement would not be
satisfactory for the Company, and Mr. Lloyd had informed me that he could
not accept it in any case on his own authority. But it would appear that the
existance of this obvious alternative, whether employed or not, would afford a
sufficient answer to any claim on the part of the Persian Government to the
buildings. Moreover, should any question arise within the near future resulting
from the inception of a Constitutional Government at Tehran, it would be a
simple matter to revise the Agreement accordingly.
To have done so now would have held up the conclusion of the Aorpp.
ment indefinitely.
The ultimate lever which seemed to turn the scale in all these matters was
the observation, or threat, that it was clear to me from the terms of their
instructions that His Majesty’s Government were anxious to help the Company
in this matter and intended that the Agreement should be put through without
fail at the present meeting and that they would be extremely displeased if I
had to report that the Sheikh had proved unreasonable. I added on mv own
account that if after the concessions already made by the Company he did not
complete the Agreement the Company would think it hopeless to get fair terms
from him, and would take their chance with the Persian Government direct
simply informing the latter that they needed a tract of uncultivated land on
Abadan under the terms of their concession, and requesting that the Central
Government would either assign it to them or instruct their Governor at Moham-
merah to do so.
I imbibed this useful hint in the course of conversation with Haji Rais who,
I may mention, was most helpful throughout and well deserved the honorarium
which I understand the Company decided to give him on the conclusion
of the Agreement.
I have the honour to be with the highest respect,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
(Sd.) P. Z. COX, Major,
British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
and His Britannic Majesty's Consul-
General for Pars, etc.

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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:

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
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File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [‎320r] (205/338), 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_100030500369.0x000031> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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