Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎20v] (42/284)

14
reductions. In consequence there is now a surplus of Britisli laboui avai a e, con
sisting of men who are conversant with drilling conditions in the East.
Both of the above Companies have lists of men on their books who are avai a^ e
for employment. In Trinidad the oil companies have been fairly successful m rammg
British personnel and they also employ a considerable number of native dnl eis.
It was perhaps only natural that the Bahrein Petroleum Company, being essen
tially an American concern, should prefer to have an American Fields Manager o
superintend the preliminary prospecting operations with a small staff of Ameiican
drillers, but now that oil has been found and the Company will enlarge theii operations,
there appears no reason why they should not employ British labour on the oilfields m
accordance with the terms of their Agreement.
It is suggested that the Company's attention should be called to the above facts
and that they should be told that His Majesty's Government will expect them to make
arrangements for the employment of British personnel for further operations and as
soon as existing contracts expire. The post of Fields Manager is one of exceptional
importance and responsibility and it is not suggested that the Company should be
pressed to replace this official as long as they consider it important to retain his services
18135/33 [Nos. 102-105].
No. 22.
MR. K. W. BLAXTER (Colonial Office)
to
[1] MR. G W. RENDEL (Foreign Office).
[2] CAPTAIN H. R. MOORE (Admiralty).
f 3] MR. J. G. LAITHWAITE ( 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. ).
[4] MR. F. C. STARLING (Petroleum Department).
[Ansivered by Nos. 24, 25, 23, and 79.1
Downing Street, 9th May, 193i3.
Dear [Rendel,] [Moore,] [Laithwaite,] [Starling,]
Parkinson asks me to send you, for your information, the enclosed note of a talk
which he had on the 8th May* with Lombardi and Ballantyne about the Bahrein Oil
Concession.
You will see that the question of the employment of British drillers was discussed.
In view of what Lombardi said, Parkinson is disposed not to take any further action, at
any rate, for the present. Perhaps you will say whether you agree.
As regards paragraph 3 of the note [To [1] J [3] : I am asking Starling whether he
considers] [To [4] : we should like to know whether you consider] that further details
are required to support the Company's contention that they have carried on with due
diligence and efficiency, and if so precisely what we should ask for.
Yours, &c.,
K - w - BLAXTER.
18135 33 [No. 122].
No. 23
MR. J. G. LAITHWAITE ( 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. )
to
MR. K. W. BLAXTER (Colonial Office).
My dear Blaxter , 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. , Whitehall, S.W.I, 10th May, 1933.
Many thanks for your letter of the 9th May,t and for the note of a conversation
between Parkinson, Lombardi and Valentine [? Ballantyne]. I quite agree that, in
view of Lombardi's remarks about the employment of British engineers, (fee.' 'we
might postpone consideration of the question of employing British drillers for the
present.
Yours, &c.,
J. G. LAITHWAITE.
* No. 77.
t No. 22.