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File 3516/1914 Pt 11 'Persia: protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Co's fields etc' [‎256v] (517/550)

The record is made up of 1 volume (271 folios). It was created in 27 Jun 1915-8 May 1919. 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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8
quantity. The above mentioned water supplies would suffice for small numbers
of men only. Before the Oil Company built the cart road the main route was
the caravan route to Shuster, a pack mule track from the oil fields vid Maidan
Napthak to Batwand near which it joined the present cart road from Tembi river
to Abgah.
This route in fairly open for 2 or 3 miles west of Tvlaidan Napthak, after
which it becomes a very difficult defile to Batwand. The only potable water is
at Batwand—one very small and uncertain spring between Batwand and Maidan
Napthak, and springs when Maidan Napthak is reached. On this road also the
water supply is small.
A third route exists from Tembi to Abgunji which follows the pipe line*
This Ts a good pack transport road 16 miles long, which crosses two mountain
ranges, the Koishiah (at the Anjirak Pass) and the Chalbatun between the two
ranges in the Ruhidarun plain, which affords excellent camping sites except for
the fact that the fresh water supply throughout the route is totally insufficient
for any body larger than a double company.
The forcing of the Anjirak Pass in the face of opposition would be a formid
able undertaking as would to a less extent, the forcing of the Chalbatun. This
, route, however, compared with the Tembi River route, would be easy to safeguard.
A strong post at Ruhidarun would probably suffice from which escorts from
Tembi Power House and Abgunji could be met.
The great difficulty however is water. I would urge that our position would
be greatly strengthened if arrangements could be made for a Water supply at
Ruhidarun. A pipe line for water pumped from the Karun at Halala has been
suggested. I think the suggestion is well worth investigation. It could be put
up by the Oil Company without exciting any suspicion and w’Ould indeed be of
considerable use to them in their ordinary work. I am strongly of opinion that
the quickest and best route for a force to the Oil Fields is by Abgunji and Tembi
Power Station. In event of urgency the long and arduous march of 15 miles
over two ranges without water would have to be faced, and the force would have
to have pack transport. Were the Oil Company in the course of their ordinary
business to arrange for a water supply at Ruhidarun, and this was suggested by
Mr. Gillespie, the whole situation as regards the Oil Fields would be enormously
j improved especially if the pipe line would enable a post to be built on the Anjirak.
This it would be difficult to do now as there is no water. Such a line would also
enable us to use Abgunji and perhaps a post on Chalbatun.
4. To protect the oil fields efficiently it would be necessary to provide
for:—
{a) The protection of the wells and the works at the fields ;
{b) The protection of the water supply for the fields at Maidan Napthak
5 miles distant, it being borne in mind that all water in the vicinity
of the fields themselves is salt,
(c) The protection of the oil pumping and power station at Tembi.
(d) The protection of the pipe line itself from the fields to Abgunji.
(e) The supply of all forces employed on the above duties, and the pro
tection of supply convoys.
5. Regarding the protection of the oil fields, Tembi, and their water
supplies, one or two battalions finding a double company at Tembi would I think
suffice for local protection, provided that a sufficient supporting force to tackle
the Bakhtiaris was within close supporting distance.
Considering the requirements of drinking and service water to enable the
Oil Company to keep going the present supply, which is pumped 5 miles from
Maidan Napthak, would not allow of more than one or two at most battalions
being posted at the fields. The only suitable camp for a supporting force, and
within easy reach of it, would beat Maidan Napthak or Chasnt Ali.

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Content

The volume concerns the situation in Persia during the First World War. The main focus is the protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Company's (APOC) oilfields and pipelines in south-western Persia.

The volume covers:

  • Defence of APOC property.
  • Notes on oilfields in Arabistan [Khuzestan].
  • Water supply of the oilfields.
  • Creation of Inter-departmental Committee on the Defence of the Persian Oil Fields and its report (ff 230-235).
  • Despatch of a small force to defend the oilfields in 1917.
  • Acquiring British control over the oilfields.
  • King's Regulation impeding to leave APOC without the consent of the Consul General for Fars, for the period of the war (f 110).
  • Providing a guard for APOC's oilfields at Maidan-i-Neptun.
  • Military training for European APOC employees.

The volume’s principal correspondents are: John Nixon, General Officer Commanding, India Expeditionary Force 'D', Basrah; Charles Hardinge, Viceroy of India; Thomas William Holderness and Arthur Hirtzel, 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. ; William Graham Greene, Oswyn Murray and Edmond John Warre Slade, Admiralty; Eyre Alexander Barby Wichart Crowe and Maurice de Bunsen, Foreign Office; Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India; Anglo-Persian Oil Company; Charles Marling, British Minister at Tehran; Percy Cox, 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

There are three maps within the file, 'Map A' (2 copies) on folios 264 and 271, and 'Part of River Karun' on folio 265.

Extent and format
1 volume (271 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 273; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-272; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 3516/1914 Pt 11 'Persia: protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Co's fields etc' [‎256v] (517/550), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/487, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044309985.0x000076> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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