Skip to item: of 1,310
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 30/87(2) Part I 'Qatar: Oil Concession.' [‎314r] (648/1310)

This item is part of

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

TRM SLATIOK
From!
To:-
Abdullah bin Qassem al Than!
Ruler of Qatar, Qatar,
Dated 16th Hajab, 1555
3rd October, 1936.
The General Manager,
Messrs. Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Ltd.,
Abadan.
After Compliments,
I trust that you are enjoying the best of health
and comfort.
I have received your esteemed letter of 7th September
1936 and thank you for your kind and delicate expressions.
I have duly noted the contents of your letter, most
particularly your remarks for the transfer of the concession
granted to you by me to a commercial company formed in London
under the name of Petroleum Development (Qatar) Ltd. in nvhich 's.
you are partners and your request to express my assent and
acquiescence to this transfer in accordance with the terms
of our agreement with you.
We agree to the above should the transfer be in
accordance with the text of our agreement in this respect
wishing you and your partners all success, great prosperity
and good fortune.
You have mentioned that the above Companv is desirous
of sending geologists together with other engineers and drilling
materials to examine the land under concession. *here is no
objection to tills? we will receive them most corciall.)' ana s.ith
due respect.
With regard to Mr. Packer whom you have mentioned that
the company will send out as its representative, he will enjoy
our hospitality and kind regards.
We are also pleased to note that the .bove-mentlonad
company is a commercial company and able to fulfil tne obligations
of the agreement and its engagements entirely. --e <isl t ..

About this item

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
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 30/87(2) Part I 'Qatar: Oil Concession.' [‎314r] (648/1310), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3806A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047810667.0x000031> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100047810667.0x000031">Coll 30/87(2) Part I 'Qatar: Oil Concession.' [&lrm;314r] (648/1310)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100047810667.0x000031">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000175/IOR_L_PS_12_3806A_0651.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000175/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image