Skip to item: of 619
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎63r] (127/284)

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

99
6. The wording of Condition C in paragraph 1 above represents the compromise
reached between the two points of view.
7. There is nothing definite to show what is meant by the term " local
authorities. It is used at various times in conjunction with " the Shaikh " and
" the local population." It does not appear to refer to local British authorities in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , because the Company's representative is empowered to deal with
the local authorities and population in Bahrein." It may include 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.
at Bahrein and also such local Bahreini authorities as deal with questions of shipping
and leasing land. It might, however, be mentioned that in writing to the Colonial
Office on the subject of Condition C the Foreign Office said that " Mr. Henderson
does not attach importance to the precise designation to be given to the British official
of the Company at Bahrein, so long as it is made clear that that official only may
have access to the Shaikh and is the responsible representative of the Company for
the purpose of all dealings with the Shaikh and his people." (See No, 32 in Middle
East No. 32.)
Colonial Office, 1933.
18301/83 [No. 39].
No. 121.
MR. G. W. RENDEL (Foreign Office)
to
MR. K. W. BLAXTER (Colonial Office).
My dear Blaxter , Foreign Office, S.W.I, 7th June, 1933.
As Warner has, I think, told you orally when discussing your letter of the
2()th May,* to me on the question of Major Holmes's non-compliance with his obligation
as regards residence in Bahrein, we are not quite clear as to the reasons which have
led you to the conclusion embodied in that letter that it would be best to do nothing
in the matter until other questions pending with the Bahrein Oil Company are out of
the way.
2. We gather that you propose to consider the question of Holmes's residence in
Bahrein as a comparatively minor one, over which the other questions outstanding
between His Majesty's Government and the Bahrein Oil Company should take pre
cedence. We are not quite sure that we agree with this appreciation, and I wonder
whether we ought not to consider the matter from the following rather different point
of view.
3. Looking at it in its widest aspect, we are inclined to feel that the unsatisfactory
state of all these oil questions in the Gulf from His Majesty's Government's point of
view is due in large measure to Holmes's activities. If this is so, is it not important
to do anything we legitimately can to circumscribe those activities? And if the answer
to this question is in the affirmative, is not one way of doing this ready to our hand in
Condition C attached to the Bahrein Oil Company's concession regarding the appoint
ment of Major Holmes as Chief Local Representative in Bahrein?
4. We understand that it is generally agreed by the Departments concerned that
the interpretation which the Company have sought to put upon the phrase in this
£C condition " regarding residence in Bahrein is quite untenable, and that the Company
should be informed that we consider the words are only open to their natural construc
tion that Holmes should spend his whole time there (with a period of annual leave for
purposes of health which Holmes could reasonably be expected to spend in a better
climate than that of the Gulf). It may be true, as Laithwafte, I think, pointed out
at one of the recent interdepartmental meetings, that within the limits of strict com
pliance with this condition, Holmes could still pay frequent visits by air to Kuwait
and perhaps to other places in the Gulf; but it would at any rate exclude his being
present for longish periods at the Shaikh of Kuwait's elbow during ticklish stages in
the Kuwait negotiations, and his flying off to Jedda, Cairo, &c., at frequent intervals
as he seems to be at present.
5. It was presumably intended, when Condition C was made, that the Chief
Local Representative m Bahrein should be someone who was persona grata to His
Majesty's Government and that he should to some extent hold a watching brief for
His Majesty's Government or at least be a safeguard against things being done by the
* No. 118.

About this item

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
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎63r] (127/284), 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_100035849169.0x000081> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035849169.0x000081">Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [&lrm;63r] (127/284)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035849169.0x000081">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002d6/IOR_R_15_1_749_0128.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002d6/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image