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Coll 30/87(2) Part I 'Qatar: Oil Concession.' [‎128r] (278/1310)

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The record is made up of 4 volumes (639 folios). It was created in 14 Jan 1935-8 Nov 1944. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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(3) -.f®
To - Shaikh Abdulla bin ^asim al Thani, CIS.,
Ruler of ^atar #
^ , lo*C/924 of i942
Dated 28th June 1942*
After compliments.
has now spread W all ovtr the Britain and Gennany
is big or small, whether it ia frhm or fL canT^’ w ^ ether it
consequences of war. As a re an] escape the
Government have found it necessary to di^-ctthfo^t^ 82 ^' 8
suspend its operations in your terr'-tD/ LD 01 c ° m V m y to
neceesary, though I am afrlid that i+ wiii nnt a >° rae ? 16 absolu tely
You will. I am sure ws?+ +D ", 1 “ " lil n °t be welcomed by you.
haDoen when + ve^’ ' to a sk ‘iueations about what will
happen when the Company ceases its operations, so I propose to
voD ' ^tar ^-ter this week so that I can explain eveivthing to
+ i I -f? sorry that my first visit to ^.atar should be in connec
tion with an unfortunate matter such as this, but it cannot be
heIpeu. hornetiifies the news is good, sometimes it is bad* Every
thing is in God’s hand.
Usual Ending.
ad. E.B.Wakefield
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. , Bahrain.
To
Dated, Qqhah,
Shaikh Abdulla bin ^asim al Thani, GIE.,
Ruler of %atar.
3rd July 1942.
After Compliments,
Injwfy k* p/o^a t 28th June, I informed you that
His kajesty’s Government have found it necessary to direct the Oil
Company to suspend its operations in 4,atar. I have now had an
*rrDortunity of explaining to you personally the reason for what
has been donej and I have assured you that the Company will con
tinue to meet its financial obligations under the Agreements with
you. In particular, the Company Vifill continue to pay (a) the sum
of Rs*3,00,000/- annually on account of their concession, (b) the
sum of Rs.l25C/- monthly on account of the salary of your two ^
rex^reeentatives, (c) the sum of Rs. 13,250/- annually in lieu ol
petrol and kerosene.
In our personal discussions you raised some further points
about which I was unable to give you a del ini te .reply.
I shall be grateful if you will now
above, and v/ill also let me have a list
you wish to be done by the Company#
confirm what I have said
of the other things which
Usual Ending#
sd. E.B.Wakefield.
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. , Bahrain.
^r
p
dated
^atar
26th Jamadi II »1361 (ll^I 1
to 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. , Bahrain
’ ->-ed 28th June and 3rd July l c
/ ^

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Content

The file concerns the signing of the agreement between the British Government, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) (later the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company), and the Shaikh of Qatar, Abdullah bin Qasim al Thani [‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī] to award the company an exclusive oil concession in Qatar (also spelled Qatr and Katr). The file also concerns preliminary oil explorations in Qatar, and the subsequent suspension of operations on the orders of the British Government.

The papers cover: discussion, drafts and text of the commercial agreement between the Shaikh of Qatar and APOC (signed 17 May 1935); discussion, draft and text of the political agreement between HM Government and APOC (signed 5 June 1935); the use by the Shaikh of modern, Egyptian Arabic to make comments on the draft (folios 624-625); British support for the proposal that disputes between foreign employees of the company and inhabitants of Qatar should not be submitted to the Shara [Sharia] courts (folio 604); intelligence on the activities of the Standard Oil Company [California-Arabia Standard Oil Company] (e.g. folio 443); British emphasis that military protection would be afforded to the Shaikh of Qatar on condition that he awarded the oil concession to APOC, and the assumption by Britain of responsibility for the protection of Qatar (e.g. folios 400-403); the transfer of the concession from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company to Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited (e.g. folios 335-357); the payment of salaries to the Shaikh's representatives (e.g. folios 294-295); water drilling operations by the company (e.g. folios 237-241); references to Qatar's disputed border with Saudi Arabia; reports of preliminary drilling results and first discoveries of oil (1939-41); employment of foreign personnel by Petroleum Concessions Limited in Qatar (folios 180-182); the suspension of drilling operations on the orders of HM Government in 1942 as a result of war conditions, including correspondence on the subject between British officials and the Shaikh of Qatar, 1942-43; note that the suspension had been ordered because the British military authorities were unable to spare sufficient personnel to ensure the destruction of the oil wells, should the military situation demand it (folio 41); correspondence dated 1944 concerning a proposed increase in world oil refining capacity; and further correspondence dated 1944 concerning the boundary between Qatar and Bahrain at Hawar Island.

The main correspondents are senior officials 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. , representatives of the oil companies concerned, and 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. .

The Arabic language content of the file consists of approximately 30 folios of correspondence, largely between British officials and the Ruler of Qatar.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
4 volumes (639 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: this file consists of four physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover of volume one (ff 1-161) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume four (ff 486-647); 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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Coll 30/87(2) Part I 'Qatar: Oil Concession.' [‎128r] (278/1310), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3806A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047810665.0x00004f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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