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Political authorities. He did not think that Major Holmes was regarded, either by the
local British authorities in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , or by the Departments concerned in London,
as a particularly satisfactory individual. He was under the impression, too, that the
Colonial Office had had reason to believe that Major Holmes was not entirely persona
grata to the American Syndicate. He therefore suggested that Mr. Ballantyne might be
told that Major Holmes's activities were not regarded with favour by His Majesty's
Government; that it was essential that a representative of the Company should be con
tinually resident in Bahrein and that a suggestion might be made to Mr. Ballantyne that
another representative should be appointed in his place.
17. Lieutenant-Colonel Fowle said that he thought that either the Manager of
the Eastern Bank, or of the Mesopotamia-Persia Corporation would probably make quite
a satisfactory local representative of the Company. Both these persons were British
subjects.
18. Mr. Blaxter pointed out that at the time that the Agreement of the 12th of
June, 1930, was under discussion with the Company, Major Holmes was looked upon
with favour, and his appointment as the first local representative of the Company was,
in fact, made at the instance of His Majesty's Government. The position had, of course,
changed, but it would have to be remembered in dealing with Mr. Ballantyne that it was
His Majesty's Government, and not the Company, who wanted Major Holmes appointed,
19. Mr. Parkinson said that it would be necessary to explain to Mr. Ballantyne
that his interpretation of Condition C was not accepted, i.e., it was not a one-sided
arrangement as Mr. Ballantyne suggested, nor was it a sufficient answer that Major
Holmes had been available (if this were the case) whenever the Bahrein authorities had
happened to want him there. In view of Major Holmes's activities during the last three
3 T ears, and in particular his long absences from Bahrein, it might be desirable to raise at
the same time the question of getting him replaced by some other more suitable person.
But before deciding upon such action, Mr. Parkinson said that he thought the Colonial
Office should get out a clear statement of the facts as to Major Holmes's appointment,
&c. Mr. Laithwaite said that 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. would be glad to assist in drawing up
a statement.
Nationality of Company''s Employees in Bahrein.
20. The Political Besident's Confidential despatch, No. 21 of the 21st of March,*
was discussed, and it was agreed that up to the present there had been no grounds on
which it could reasonably be pressed that any considerable number of the Company's
employees should be British subjects or British protected persons. Mr. Starling , how
ever, pointed out that more drilling work was likely to be undertaken from now onwards
and that there were available at present quite a number of expert drillers who were
British subjects, and who were seeking employment. He undertook to let the Colonial
Office have some details on this matter, in order that the Company might be approached
and urged to give emplojmient to some of these people, as their work extended and called
for additional staff.
Amendments to the Third Schedule (Mining Lease) of the 1925 Concession.
Offioiating 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. 's Confidential Despatch, No. 26 of the 17th of Aprils
21. Lieutenant-Colonel Fowle observed that when the time came to make
amendments in the third Schedule or to allow an increase in the area over which the
Company desires to secure mining rights, there were a number of points of importance
which would need consideration.
22. Mr. Starling said that the Petroleum Department had drawn attention to
a number of these points in their letter of the 23rd of December, 1932.i
23. Captain Moore observed that the Admiralty were anxious that provision
should be made giving the Shaikh the right of pre-emption in emergencies, and requiring
that a proportion of the oil should be refined in Bahrein, or in British territory; also the
Admiralty were anxious that the position of the naval base at Bahrein, if such a base
were to be constructed, should be safe-guarded.
24. Captain Moore undertook to have a letter sent to the Colonial Office on the
last-mentioned point, and Mr. Starling said that he would arrange that the
memorandum already being drafted in Petroleum Department should cover all points
which needed consideration.
* No. 20.
t No. 71.
t No. 57.