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Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎59v] (120/284)

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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92
Agreement," provided they reciprocate (however much we may object to an American
concern establishing itself in Bahrein, once established, as it is, this is really the only
sensible policy to pursue), but that if they prove obstructive and concoct pettifogging
arguments, such as Ballantyne has produced, we shall have no choice but to pursue
similar tactics, and they will probably come off worst in the exchange.
5. By the way, on my way back from Muscat the other day I stopped at Bahrein
and met Janson and his American colleague Lombardi, who had been paying a visit to
Bahrein. Loch and Belgrave told me that there had been a row between the four oil
officials with the English (Holmes and Janson) on the one side, and the Americans
(Lombardi and Skinner) on the other, the exact cause being unknown. Skinner is a
pleasant individual, and both Loch and I like him. The American drillers too, who
have hitherto come to Bahrein, seem a decent lot, though their quality may deteriorate
when they come in larger numbers.
I am sending a copy of this letter together with a copy of yours and the enclosure
from Ballantyne to Metcalfe and Laithwaite.
Yours, &c.,
T C. FOWLE.
18135/33 [No 100].
No. 115.
(Confidential.)
EXTRACT FROM A FINAL RECORD OF A MEETING HELD AT THE COLONIAL
OFFICE ON THE 26TH OF APRIL, 1933, TO DISCUSS VARIOUS QUESTIONS
RELATING TO OIL IN THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Present:
Mr. Parkinson )
Mr. Blaxter j" Colonial Office.
Mr. James
Mr. Rendel ) ^
Mr. Johnstone ' Forei g n 0ffice -
Mr. 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. .
Captain Moore , Admiralty.
Mr. Starling , Petroleum Department.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fowle , 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
H. Bahrein Oil.
Major Holmes's Residence in Bahrein.
16. Mr. Laithwaite drew attention to Condition C of the Agreement of the 12th
of June, 1930, and to Major Holmes's failure to conform with the terms of that Condi
tion. The question had been the subject of correspondence with Mr. Ballantyne and 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Mr. Laithwaite said that, in the light of dis
cussion with Colonel Fowle, he thought it was for consideration whether the time had
not come when His Majesty's Government should take notice of Major Holmes's activities
and consider whether some action should not be taken in the matter. He appeared to
be the representative in the Gulf not only of the Bahrein Petroleum Company, but of the
Eastern and General Syndicate, and to spend much of his time away from Bahrein con
ducting negotiations for concessions in other parts of the Gulf. Everybody he thought,
was agreed that the wording of Condition C made it clear that Major Holmes ought to
spend if not the whole at any rate the bulk of the year, say ten months, in Bahrein, and
while it might be said that he had not at present been absent from Bahrein at any time
when he was needed, an instance had just occurred in which Major Holmes had
approached 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. in regard to an extension of the Company's prospecting
licence, and, having asked for a reply within a certain period, had gone off elsewhere
without leaving any address. On a further point the Acting 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. had just
informed Colonel Fowle that Major Holmes, in contravention of the terms of the agree
ment, had been in correspondence with the Financial Adviser, Bahrein, in regard to the
Bahrein oil concession. This, though possibly such informal correspondence had taken
place in the past, was in fact a breach of the agreement, which made it clear that all
communications between the British Resident and the Shaikh must pass through the

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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) [‎59v] (120/284), 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_100035849169.0x00007a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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