Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎76r] (153/284)

125
O, 98026/82 [No. 73].
No 144.
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 SECEETARY OF STATE.
(Received 15th June, 1932.)
(Confidential.)
(No. 20.) 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,
Bushire, 7th June, 1932.
T ttave the honour to forward herewith a copy of a draft oil concession submitted
to His Excellency the Shaikh of Kuwait by Major Frank Holmes on behalf of the Eastern
and General Syndicate. I have only just received it and have no time to comment on
it by this mail, but will do so by the next.
I am sending a copy of this letter to the Government of India.
I have, &c.,
H. V. BISCOE,
• Lieutenant-Colonel.
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. .
Enclosure in No. 144.
In the name of God the Merciful.
This Agreement made the day of , 1932, corresponding
to day of , 135, at Kuwait between His Excellency Shaikh
Sir Ahmad A1 Jabir Al-Subah, K .C .I.E., C .S .I., Ruler of Kuwait in Arabia (herein
after called The Shaikh , which expression where the context so admits shall include
His Heirs, Successors, Assigns and Subjects) of the First Part, and Frank Holmes, of
18, St. Swithin's Lane, E.C.4, London, England, the true and lawful Attorney of the
Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, whose registered Office is at 19, St. Swithin's
Lane, E.C.4, London, England (hereinafter called The Company , which expression
where the context so admits includes its Assigns and Successors) of the Other Part.
Whereas the Shaikh is desirous of developing the oil and petroleum resources
of His Territory, he has for that purpose, agreed to grant unto The Company the con
cession hereinafter contained.
(1) In consideration of the rights, covenants, and royalties hereinafter reserved
and contained. The Shaikh in exercise of his powers, as Ruler and Sovereign of his
Dominions for himself. Heirs, Assigns, Successors, and Subjects, hereby grants unto
The Company exclusively :
The exclusive right whereby The Company shall be entitled throughout the whole
of the territories of The Shaikh to explore and search the surface of such territories
for natural gas, petroleum and all products of oil. The Shaikh grants free access to
all the Agents, Successors, and Servants of The Company necessarily employed by the
latter to all parts of the Kuwait territory under the control of The Shaikh , saving only
sacred buildings, shrines, graveyards and the area within the present existing town
wall of Kuwait.
i The Shaikh grants unto The Company the right, for a period of five (5) calendar
] years to count from the date hereof, to select from the whole of the Kuwait territories
e under the control of The Shaikh , saving only sacred buildings, shrines, graveyards
e and area within the present existing town wall of Kuwait, an aggregate area not
d exceeding Sixteen hundred and forty (1,640) square miles, divided and located as
){ The Company may decide, into six (6) or more blocks, which blocks selected by The
Company shall be hereinafter called the " Conceded Territory ," and The Shaikh
hereby grants the following rights and privileges as stated herein, together with the
easements and rights and privileges over the Kuwait territory to be exercised in
connexion with the rights and operations of The Company in the said Conceded
Territory , including surface rights over Kuwait territory necessary for the buildings,
camps, storage facilities for water and oil, pipelines, water and steam lines, roads,
railways, telegraph and telephone lines and other ways of communication. In the
event that The Company might desire to occupy lanOis covered by village areas,
gardens or private water wells included within the Conceded Territory , then The
Company shall not be permitted to enter into possession thereof without first making
arrangements to do so with The Shaikh and through The Shaikh with the owners.