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Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎131r] (263/284)

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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235
therefore decided to return to the home of his fathers to see whether he could make
good by pushing Anglo-Persian Oil Company's interests as opposed to those of Major
Holmes, He certainly endeavoured to enlist the sympathies of the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company on his arrival at Bahrein from Nejd, through their Agent, Mr. Yusuf Kano,
C.I.E., M.B.E. (vide Bushire telegram 20G, dated 27.3.33) and outwardly appears
very anti-American and Major Holmes in particular.
The above remarks are made in the form of a digression in view of what follows.
(h) K. B. Abdul Latif, after two preliminary calls, at which no business was
discussed, had a long interview with me on 24th April, 1933, and among other things
made the following interesting statements connected with recent oil events
(1) Major Holmes only went to Jeddah to try and get an oil concession in regard
to the Kuwait Neutral Zone—this he (Abdul Latif) had got to know
privately through Mohamed Sulaiman, Bin Sand's Finance Minister
(2) Major Holmes was shrewd enough to know that if he could get Bin Saud
to agree to give him the Neutral Zone, then the Shaikh of Kuwait's consent
would follow as a matter of course, for Bin Saud had only to express the
wish to Shaikh Ahmad that he also should grant his approval and the latter
would fall into line.
(3) Should (1) and (2) above happen, then Bin Saud would certainly follow up
matters by urging the Shaikh of Kuwait to give the Kuwait oil concession
to the Eastern and General Syndicate and not to the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company, as it would be impossible to have one Oil Company working in
the Kuwait Neutral Zone and another next door in Kuwait territory.
Obviously both must go together.
(4) The Shaikh of Kuwait's journey into the Southern desert on 20th February
and 25th February accompanied by Major Holmes' confidential secretary
was for the purpose of meeting the King or son Saud, the intention
being to prepare the ground for the submission, by Holmes, of a draft
proposal for a concession for the Neutral Zone. (See this Office Confidential
Report No. 44, dated 5th March, 1933, to Bushire.)
(5) Following this visit Holmes received a telegram (18th March) from Bin Saud
inviting him to Jeddah.
(6) The Shaikh of Kuwait, who clearly at heart was anxious to give the con
cession both for Kuwait and the Neutral Zone to Holmes, himself originated
the plan and suggested to Holmes that he should go for the Neutral Zone
first, get Bin Saud on his side, and then get the latter to press him (the
Shaikh of Kuwait) to grant the Kuwait concession to himself (Holmes). The
Shaikh believed that with Bin Saud supporting him, he need not fear His
Majesty's Government's subsequent annoyance, if he agreed to this form
of pressure.
(7) Only fear of His Majesty's Government, or moral suasion from Bin Saud
would ever make the Shaikh grant the Kuwait oil concession to the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company. This being so. His Majesty's Government must
either bring quick pressure to bear on the Shaikh to grant the concession
the way they wanted it to go, or the Anglo-Persian Oil Company must
forestall Major Holmes in the Neutral Zone, get the concession for that piece
of territory from Bin Saud and get the latter to bring pressure to bear on
the Shaikh, where Kuwait was concerned.
As the first proposal could probably be ruled out, it was absolutely
vital to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company that they should, through Longrigg
in Jeddah or other special representative (the latter for preference) go
" all out " for a concession in the Neutral Zone without delay.
(8) Lastly, Bin Saud intended giving no answer at all to any of the Jeddah con
cession hunters till the end of May or early in June.
Comments.
In my opinion the above statements are worthy of careful thought. They were
put in typically Arab roundabout fashion, but I am nevertheless inclined to agree with"
most of what the late Director of Customs told me.
It is so obvious to the mere onlooker that the Shaikh's interests lie in the direction
of the British company that nothing but a belief that it will be to his advantage

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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) [‎131r] (263/284), 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_100035849170.0x000041> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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