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Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎50v] (102/284)

The record is made up of 1 file (140 folios). It was created in 1932-Jul 1933. 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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74
18135/33 [No. 213].
No. 93.
The 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. to the SECRETARY OF STA TE
(Received 1.34 p.m., 3rd July, 1933.)
Telegram.
(Paraphrase.)
3rd July. No. 20. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. has been informed by the Manager,
Bahrein Petroleum Company, that he has telegraphed for Holmes urgently. Copy by
mail to the Government of India.
18301/33 [No. 43].
No. 94.
The 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. to the SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 3rd July, 1933.)
[Answered hy No. 101.]
(Confidential.)
(No. 36.) British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and Consulate-General,
Sir , Bushire, 12th June, 1933
In continuation of my letter No. 33, dated the 2nd June, 1933,* 1 have the
honour to enclose a copy of a letter. No. C/182, dated the 29th May, 1933, from the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrein. The letter covers two main points : Major Holmes's action
in the matter of the offer of the Company and the merits of the offer itself.
2 Reference paragraph 3 and 4 of Colonel Loch's letter. Major Holmes's
conduct in the matter can be criticized on the following points :—
(a) His infringement of Condition C of the Schedule attached to the indenture
between Shaikh Hamad bin Isa A1 Khalifah and the Eastern and General
Syndicate, Limited, dated the 12th June, 1930, in approaching and
endeavouring to negotiate direct with His Excellency Shaikh Hamad.
(h) His statement that the offer contained in his letter of 17th May to the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. came from the Shaikh (paragraph 4 of the said letter) which
His Excellency flatly denies.
(c) His statement that the Shaikh agreed to certain proposals (paragraph (1) of
the letter). His Excellency denies that he agreed to any proposals at all.
(d) His statement with regard to certain particular matters : (1) inclusion of
territorial waters (paragraph (1) of the letter), and (2) the provision that
the loan, or advance, mentioned in paragraph 2 of the letter should be
dependent on the world market for oil.
His Excellency states that neither (1) nor (2) were mentioned to him at all. Even
allowing for a certain amount of genuine misunderstanding in the course of conversa
tion, especially with an Arab Shaikh. I do not see how the differences between Major
Holmes's and the Shaikh's account of their discussions can be reconciled. Major
Holmes's statement (h) is absurd on the face of it. Shaikh Hamad is, of course, quite
incapable of drawing up such a complicated document. Major Holmes's object in
stating that the offer came from the Shaikh is, of course, obvious. He wishes to
represent the Shaikh of Bahrein as having made an offer to his Company, and therefore
to put His Majesty's Government, if they should object to any features of this offer,
in the awkward position of interfering between the Shaikh and what the latter thinks
to be for his own benefit and that of his State.
3. Nor are Major Holmes's mis-statements confined to the matter of Bahrein
oil. In the matter of Kuwait oil he has only recently made a statement which His
Excellency Shaikh Ahmad bluntly stigmatized as a lie {vide my despatch No. 34, dated
the 8th June, 1933,f copy to Government of India under Bushire printed letter
No. 631-S of same datei.
4. Major Holmes's unfitness for the post of Chief Local Representative of the
Bahrein Petroleum Company has been the subject of some correspondence of late,
chiefly on account of his long absences from Bahrein, and as Colonel Loch points out
* No. 85.
t No. 272.

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Content

This file contains copies correspondence regarding the granting of oil concessions in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The correspondence is a mixture of internal correspondence between British officials (from the 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. , Colonial Office, Foreign Office and the Petroleum Department) and correspondence between British officials and Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain and representatives from the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited, the Eastern and General Syndicate Limited and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.

The file is divided up as follows:

Bahrein [Bahrain]

1. Indenture between Shaikh of Bahrein and the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, dated 12th June, 1930. Conditions governing assignment of Concession to Bahrein Petroleum Company.

2. Eastern and General Syndicate's application for a further Concession in Bahrein.

3. Landing Grounds and Seaplane Station.

4. Areas covered by Prospecting Licence granted to Bahrein Petroleum Company on 28th November, 1931.

5. Employment of British Subjects by the Bahrein Petroleum Company.

6. Extension of Prospecting Licence granted to Bahrein Petroleum Company on 28th November, 1931.

7. Chief Local Representative of the Bahrein Petroleum Company

Kuwait

1. Applications of the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for an Oil Concession.

Extent and format
1 file (140 folios)
Arrangement

The file is divided up into two thematic sections. The correspondence within these sections is arranged chronologically. A table of contents is contained on folios 2-13

Physical characteristics

Condition: A printed pamphlet with bound pages.

Foliation: the foliation sequence is written in pencil, circled, and is located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎50v] (102/284), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/749/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035849169.0x000068> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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