'File 5/3 Possibility of a Concession for Asir oil' [‎7r] (13/18)

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Hr* U ^J&naon, oi th« iSastorn ^ Ckm^ral Syndicate had
a» intorrla* with Mr* Starling on M&gr 18th f 1034, and said that
the Syndicate were taking an interest in %m wet ion of
obt&inl&i: oil c nee anion© on the Western ©id© of irahia and
had bean told by Xbn Saud that ho would bo prepared to grant
the Syndicate a cone ©aion in reepeot of Aeir* He belie red
that the Standard Oil of California were also interesting
them©©Irea in the matter, and unices something was done quickly
by a British Company, the Standard Company was likely to take
Up this concession*
He had ccon the qu «tioo© raised in P&rliaacmt reoently
about Bahrain, and it oluht be inferred from thee© that the
Syndicate «•» in no&o way eeponsiblo for that oonoctosion going
to the Anorioane* He thougiit, therefore, that he ou ht to
lot the Petrsleum i>opartP.ent know about the Asir propoeltlon*
Mr* Starling said that Ibn Saud*a territory was in a
different position from that of the Sheikhdoms on the Bcu^tern
coast of Arabia, whore the British Ooreranent had to be v v
consul tod in connection with the grant of ocncoosionn* eke
British Oowemment wore naturally desirous that British oil
coj&parioa should taiae up oil oonoossions whsrewsr prospects
coesaed at all favourable, but Mr* St rling said that he oould
not do more than take note of what Mr* dancon hud told him.