Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎20r] (41/284)

13
Ex tract paragraph 3 from letter No. C/102 of 8th march, 1983, from the
olttical Agent, Bahrein, to the Honourable the Political Eesident in
the Persian Gulp.
It impossible to state precisely the number of employees of the Bahrein
etro eiim Company, Limited, and their nationalities, asked for in the second para-
grap i of your memorandum, without making a specific inquiry from the Company. As
it is not clear whether His Majesty's Government intend to approach the Company, I
nave not made any inquiry from them pending further orders, as to do so would at once
raise the question which might be embarrassing. In the meantime, I can say that I
J^ ve visited the field a number of times, and have casually seen most of the personnel.
The Fields Manager and his Secretary and Accountant and the drillers and riggers
(some eight in all) are citizens of the United States of America. The lower works
personnel comprise some Sikhs, an Anglo-Indian, a Burman, and two Indian clerks.
The head cook is a Chinese ! I am not certain about a few men who help work the drills
and so on they may be anything. There are a number of local guards and coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. ,
though I hear that the coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. are mostly Persians or Najdis. I understand that a further
perty of drillers is expected shortly from the United States of America.
18135/33 [No 851.
No. 21.
MR. F. C. STARLING (Petroleum Department)
to
MR. K. W. BLAXTER (Colonial Office).
(Mines Department), Dean Stanley Street, Millbank.
My dear Blaxter . Westminster, London, S.W.I, 1st May, 1933.
With reference to your letter of the 24th April,* and our discussion at the
Colonial Office on the 26th April, I send herewith a short note giving our views on the
possibility of increasing the British element in the personnel employed or to be employed
by the Bahrein Petroleum Company.
I haven't said anything about the position of Holmes, but I may perhaps put on
record that we will support any effort which may be made to get rid of this gentleman
or to insist on his spending more time in Bahrein.
Yours, &c.,
F. C. STARLING.
Enclosure in No. 21.
Employment of British Subjects as Drillers and for Oilfield W^ork.
The Agreement of 1930 between the Shaikh of Bahrein and the Eastern and
General Syndicate provided that as many of the employees of the Company as was
consistent with the efficient carrying on of the undertaking should at all times be British
subjects, or subjects of the Shaikh of Bahrein.
At the present time the Bahrein Petroleum Company have an American Fields
Manager and about eight United States citizens who are either drillers or working on
the rigs. There is, of course, also a certain amount of native labour.
With regard to the question of the employment of British drillers, a few years ago
it was very difficult to get British drillers, the only men available being those who were
already in the employment of the large oil companies and who had been specially
trained for the work. From inquiries which the Petroleum Department has made, it
has been ascertained, however, that the position has now changed as both the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company and the 'Iraq Petroleum Company have trained a large number
of men and have recently reduced their drilling staffs. The Anglo-Persian Oil
Company's drilling staff is now entirely British and they have lately reduced the number
of their drillers from 140 to 40. The 'Iraq Petroleum Company has also made large
* 18135/33 [No. 71] : not printed.