File 1421/1908 Pt 3 'Persia: oil; negotiations between the Shaikh of Mohammerah and the Anglo-Persian Oil Co.' [‎321r] (207/338)

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?, nd M f; L J°y < J c u ou!d not explain the object of the Company in wanting land on
t e right bank he must decide not to give it. Mr. Lloyd saw no nee/to press
reasons'were'for'the request^ 2 ^ t0 S£e P recisel y what th « Company's
thanSo H^f h Rli7sToS r offices nd ^ accommodating and liberal,
again'in\his Article!' 016 *^ that tHe question the revers i° n of buildings occurs
c , endorsement of the deed by the Tribal Sheikhs of the
Sheikh s tribe was provided for as likely to be a valuable cachet to the Agreement.
Article 7--The question of territorial responsibility.
cu The Bakhtyaris, who accepted responsibility with alacrity compared to
Sheikh Khazal, have never fulfilled their obligations satisfactorily. Sheikh
Khazal is very apprehensive for himself in this connection and naturally anxious
to protect himself as far as possible ; but though less ready to commit himself on
paper there is good reason to hope that in practice he will act up to his obligations
more fully than they have. He admits that even should he become personally
exempt from responsibility under the wording of this Article, by reason of the
company electing to supply their own guards, he will still, as Governor of
the district on behalf of the Central Government, be administratively responsible
for the maintenance of order in the ordinary way.
Article 8 % This is the Article in which the question of reversion is chiefly
raised* As before mentioned it is dealt with in the body of my covering letter
Article g .—This Article was one of the three chief difficulties of the nego-
ciations. The sheikh refused to concede to the Company's desire that the
Agreement with him should in every respect run parallel, in point of renewal or
extension, with the parent Concession with the Persian Government.
It was one of the three questions which we were unable to get him to settle
with the Company as a matter of business, but which was eventually got over
otherwise.
Article 10 .—This Article differs somewhat from the Company’s draft. It was
thought best to specify only what “ treasure-trove ” did cover, and not to put
ideas into the Sheikh’s head by stating what it did not cover, He himself raised
the question of the possible finding of oil in his limits. The rights of the
Company in this eventuality were explained to him, but he was given to under
stand verbally by the Company’s Agent that in the event of separate springs of
oil being tapped within his limits, the Company would be inclined to come to
some friendly arrangement with him.
Article 1 $.—It is not apparent to me why the Company expected to get
men from the Sheikh of Mohammerah for five tomams per month when they
were paying six or more in the Bakhtyari country. The Sheikh gave a good
deal of trouble over this section, but it was eventually arranged as stated.
Article /c?.—The same question regarding substitution of 11 sons and lineal
descendants ” arose here as in the case of the preamble.
Article .20.—The subject of this Article was one regarding which the Sheikh
was not unnaturally a little apprehensive. He has of course heard from time
(? to time) of the friction which there has been between Messrs. Lynch and the
Bakhtyaris, and trusts that his relations with the Oil Company are not going to be
conducted on similar lines, with frequent recourse to Consular intervention or
arbitration. It will be greatly in the interests of the Company, and I am sure
their desire is also to deal as far as possible directly with the Sheikh in a friendly
and give and take way in regard to the settlement of the innumerable petty
questions which must inevitably arise, they refraining as far as practicable from
recourse to Consular assistance or official correspondence. Similarly, when
reference to Consular authorities does become necessary it will be to the
interests of all to let communications be informal up to a certain point. The
Sheikh is likely to be much more amenable to this method of negotiation, it