'File 5/1 I Mineral and oil deposits in Kuwait territory: surveys' [‎8r] (15/216)

CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 3154-Confidential, dated Bushire, the 26th November (received Oth December) 1912.
From — Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., 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. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Simla.
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Government of India,
a copy of a letter received from 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. , Kuwait, giving cover to a letter
No. 459, dated 13th November 1912. iT0I P- Shaikh Sir Mubarak bin Subah, in
which the latter begs that Government will
be pleased to assist him in furnishing the Town of Kuwait with an adequate Water
Supply.
2. Captain Shakespear mentions that he has been told by a British Engineer
in Busrah, who has visited the locality, that the prospects of obtaining water by
sinking artesian wells is not unsatisfactory and he suggests the deputation by the
Government of India of a Geological expert, with experience of artesian wells, to
examine and report on the prospects before further action is taken.
3. On reference to my records, I find that Mr. G. E. Pilgrim, who was deputed
by the Government of India in 1905, to report on the Geology of the Gulf generally,
did not visit Kuwait, and in his Memorandum on the Water Supply of the Persian
Gulf, in connection with the establishment of a Quarantine Station at Hormuz,
Director, Geological Survey of India letter , makes UO mention at all of Kuwait,
No. 925, dated 2nd March 1906, received under whilst his fuller report on the Geology of the
Foreign Department endorsement No. 1797-E.B., Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. only refers to Kuwait inciden-
dated 2nd May 1906. All, i-nj i-i
Memoirs of Geological Survey of India, Vol- ^ does not afford any data On which
ume xxxiv, Part iv, page 148-149. an opinion as to the possibilities for artesian
wells in this area could be formed.
1912.
Foreign Office to Mr. Greenway, August 23rd,
1912. (Persia—Confidential Print 35252.)
Mr. Marling to Foreign Office, No. 816-Con-
fidential, dated 28th September 1912. (Asiatic
Turkey and Arabia—Confidential Print 41818,
October 7th.)
4. The visit of an expert Geologist to Kuwait is, moreover, very desirable on
other grounds.
I have already suggested to Government the expediency of obtaining from the
Resident to Foreign, No. M.- 170 , dated 13th Shaikh of Kuwait an option or concession
June 1912. for minerals in Kuwait territorv, in which
Foreign to Resident, No. 365, dated 22nd June the oil deposits which are known to exist
there would be included. The Government
of India did not then consider the moment opportune for action in this direction,
but in view of the active measures now being taken by a group composed of the
Deutsche Bank, the National Bank of India
and the Shell Transport Company to obtain
a concession from the Porte with a view to
exploring the Oil Deposits of Mesopotamia,
and other parts of Turkish Empire, it seems
that we may be constrained before long to
approach the Shaikh with a view to obtaining prior rights within his territory and
preventing any attempt on the part of the Porte to include the Kuwait Oil Fields
within any concession which it may grant. In this connection I would beg reference
to the marginally cited letter of which the
Government of India have, no doubt, re
ceived a copy, in which the Director of the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company urges the im
portance, on Imperial grounds, of the re
tention of the Oil Fields in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. region under exclusively British control.
The present opportunity for effecting a careful examination of the Oil Fields of
Kuwait territory by an expert geologist, whilst nominally examining the potentiali
ties of artesian wells in this region, is a most favourable one and not likelv to recur,
and both on this ground, and with a view to doing our best to meet Mubarak’s
wishes in the matter, I beg that Government will be pleased to give the question
their benevolent and favourable consideration.
Mr. Greenway to Mr. Maxwell, dated 21st
October 1912, enclosing notes for evidence to
be given before Royal Commission on Oil Sup
ply. (Persia—Confidential Print 44428, dated
21st October 1912.)
5. In regard to the expediency of co-operation with Shaikh Mubarak, I would
observe that, in dealing in regard to such matters wdth the somewhat unbusiness
like Arab potentates of the Gulf, it is always of importance to take them while
they are in the mood and to strike while the iron is hot. In the present instance, the