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Concessions in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kuwait, &c: correspondence, 1932-Jul 1933 (Colonial Office Secret Print, Middle East No.49) [‎134r] (269/284)

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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241
.8, The Shaikh adroitly avoided giving me the figure offered by Holmes when I
asked him what it was—a minor point perhaps, but one showing that he tries these
davs to keep me in the dark as far as possible where oil negotiations aie conceme -
one sees the hand of Holmes in this.
I have, &c-,
H. R. P. Dickson,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
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. , Kuwait.
To the Honourable 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Bushire.
18119/33 [No. 1441.
No. 265.
MEMORANDUM OF A DISCUSSION AT 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. ON 2nd JUNE 1933,
BETWEEN ME. STARLING (Petroleum Department), ME. HEARN (Angi.o-
Pebsian Oil Company) AND MR. J. G. LAITHWAITE ( 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. ).
(Confidential.) £ u a i
Mr. Starling of the Petroleum Department and Mr. Hearn or the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company called at 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. on 2nd June to discuss informally the
latest developments in the Kuwait oil concession and to consider the line to be taken.
2 Mr. Hearn read telegrams from the local representatives of the Anglo-Persian
Oil Company in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . From these telegrams it appeared that the Shaikh
had telegraphed a message of congratulation to Sir John Cadman on the satisfactory
outcome of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's negotiations in Persia and had received
an extremely cordial reply, the local effects of which had been considera e - ie
local Anglo-Persian Oil Company's representatives indicated that m the light ot tlie
Shaikh's reactions to this reply they thought there was some possibility ot very rapid
developments in the near future as regards Kuwait oil. From remarks dropped by
the Shaikh they thought, indeed, that there was some possibihty of his making a
statement of interest on or about the time of the King's Birthday, His Excellency
had further touched on the possibility of a visit to England and the question whether
if he came as the guest of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company he would be recognised
officially. The local representatives of the Company were anxious to know whether
anything encouraging to the Shaikh and likely to make him take the decision desired
bv them could be said and in particular whether they might be authorised to offei him
a visit and to make any statement as regards official recognition in this event. <
3 Mr Hearn had recently attended an inter-departmental meeting m con
nexion with the steps being taken by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and the Iraq
Petroleum Company to secure a definite concession m Qatar at which the general
position seems to have been discussed with some freedom. Mr. Starling had, apart
from this, given him generally to understand the position as regards Kuwait. 1 said
in the first place, that as regards the King's Birthday, the Shaikh had received a
K C.l.E. very recently and there was, I understood, no question of an immediate
further honour for him. The objections from the point of view of our understanding
with the United States Government to giving him a special further honour at this
juncture were patent. Mr. Hearn said he fully appreciated this.
4 As regards the visit home, I briefly referred to the discussions which had
previouslv taken place, of the general sense of which Mr. Hearn was aware I said
tint mxious as we miaht be on general grounds that the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
should succeed in getting this concession, we were quite definitely tied by the under
takings we had given to the United States Government to give a fair field and no
favour and that it was obviously most important to take no rtep which could admit
of misinterDretation. In these circumstances it was impossible not to feel that it the
Ancdo-Persian Oil Company were now formally to invite the Shaikh to England and
he were o accept, and if'on top of this His Majesty's Government were to extend
official recognition to him and possiblv offer him some hospitality, that the Americans,
probablv alreadv bv no means satisfied of our bona would regard it as a deliberate
attempt on our part to exercise influence, in a manner contrary to our ""^rtakm^
in favour of the British companv concerned. While I wnld not say what the mcw
of the Foreign Office was likelv to be, it seemed improbable that it would differ from
this and I thought it in the circumstances definitely preferable that the greatest caution
should be exercised as regards any suggestion of an invitation by the An.lo-Pen lan

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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) [‎134r] (269/284), 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_100035849170.0x000047> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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