Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎93r] (187/284)

159
O. 98026/32 [No. 114].
No. 170.
COLONIAL OFFICE to EASTERN AND GENERAL SYNDICATE LIMITED.
Sir , Downing Street, 14th .October, 1932.
I am directed by Secretary Sir Philip Ctinliffe-Lister to refer to your letter
of the 30th September* regarding the application of the Eastern and General Syndicate
Limited for the grant of an oil concession in Kuwait, and to inform you that detailed
examination of the draft concessions submitted by your Syndicate and the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company has not yet been completed.
2. I am, however, to remind you that, before any decision can be reached the
results of the examination must be submitted to the Shaikh of Kuwait in order that
he may reach a conclusion as to the respective merits of the two offers from the
point of view of his own interests and those of his principality.
I am, &c ,
J. E. W. FLOOD.
%
C. 98019/32 [No. 40].
No. 171.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Confidential.)
Sir , Admiralty, S.W.I, 15th October, 1932.
With reference to your letter of 13th September, 1932, t concerning the appli
cation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for the grant of an oil concession in
Kuwait, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to offer the
following observations for the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
2. My Lords consider it desirable that clauses should be inserted in the Agree
ment specifying that a percentage of the oil won should be refined in Kuwait
territory, that the plant should be capable of producing fuel oil suitable for Admiralty
use, and that His Majesty's Government should have the right of pre-emption in war.
8. They further consider that if the Anglo-Persian Oil Company elect to refine
all the Kuwait oil at Abadan and Swansea, this would be a disadvantage to the Shaikh
as compared with an Eastern and General Syndicate agreement in which the ' safe
guards " would have been included; and, further, that it would be of advantage to
the Admiralty in emergency to have fuel oil available at Kuwait, which is slightly
nearer the main sea line of communication to the East than is Abadan, and also less
liable to interruption.
4. My Lords believe that a precedent for imposing these safeguards on a British
Company operating in British controlled territory exists in the Trinidad Leaseholds
Agreement.
5. Copies of this letter have been sent to the Petroleum Department, the Foreign
Office, and 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. .
I am, &c.,
J. S. BARNES.
O. 98026/32 [No. 121].
No. 172.
FOREIGN OFFICE to PETROLEUM DEPARTMENT.
(Copy received in Colonial Office, 4th November, 1932.)
[Answered hy No. 173.]
3 IRi Foreign Office, S.W.l, 3rd November, 1932.
With reference to the letter No. E 5401/121/91 of the 19th October from this
department, I am directed by Secretary Sir John Simon to transmit to you the accom
panying copy of a memorandum on the subject of the proposed Oil Concession m
* No. 167.
f No. 162.