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Coll 30/110(2) 'Oil: Oil concessions on the Trucial Coast. Negotiations with Sheikhs. Ras-al-Khaimah Agreement. Abu Dhabi.' [‎90r] (179/917)

The record is made up of 1 file (453 folios). It was created in 18 Jun 1936-15 Jul 1946. 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

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X
n
f
3
Provided the Company does in fact remain
British, it should be possible to take action
in this country to enforce the pre-emption
and refinery agreements. Oil Companies are,
however, essentially international: Petroleum
Concessions Ltd. itself is only partly British,
and the validity of the agreement between
His Majesty’s Government and the Company that
it shall not change its nationality, seems
doubtful. Further, it is always possible,
by means of holding Companies, etc., or simply
by purchase of shares, for transfer of
effective control to be made to some second
country without change in the nominal character
of the Company. There may well be circumstances
in the future in which, apart from some clear
external sanction, we would have difficulty in
enforcing our agreement with the original
concessionnaire Company.
The Sheikhs 7 sanction does provide a
clear right to His Majesty’s Government to
enforce its original agreement, whereas
without it it might prove, at the least,
legally and politically difficult to take
strong action against the ultimate controllers
of the original Company.
And, apart from such considerations,
there may always be found loopholes or legal
difficulties in the political agreements which
might make action even against a British
controlled company difficult, apart from
a clearly defined final sanction. The
existence of such a sanction, hov/ever, would
in itself make the Companies less inclined to
prove difficult or attempt evasion.
In view, however, of the agreement of your
Advisers in the Gulf in favour of dispensing with the Sheikhs
co-operation, we would, if 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. and other
interested Departments are satisfied that this is the best
course, not stand in the way of a new attempt, on this basis,
with Ras al Khaimah, and, if necessary, Abu Dhabi.
We are not, however, in favour of releasing Debai
We agree with your view that, if we are to decide
now to drop the Sheikhs co-operation, it would not be worth
while raising difficulty over an ’’endorsement” of the
conunerciaX agreement.
I am sending copies of this letter to the Foreign
and Sharjah from their existing obligations
Office and Petroleum Department.
Yours s:
/

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Content

The file concerns negotiations between Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) and the rulers of several states on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. over oil concession agreements. Petroleum Concessions Limited was the company approved by the British Government to seek oil concessions in the area; it later operated under its subsidiary company Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Limited. The papers principally relate to Ras-al-Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, but also concern Dubai, Sharjah, Umm-al-Qaiwain, Ajman, and Kalba.

The papers consist of correspondence and memoranda issued by 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. , 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. , and 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; and correspondence from the oil companies involved and local rulers (including four folios in Arabic, with English translations).

The papers cover: correspondence concerning undertakings by local rulers to protect oil surveying parties in their territories, and the amount of their liability in the event of any incidents; the involvement of Major Frank Holmes and Haji Williamson [William Richard Williamson]; the demarcation of boundaries in the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ; draft agreements relating to Ras-al-Khaimah; British concern over interest in the area on the part of the American company California Arabian Standard Oil; the definition of the phrase 'the Trucial Sheikhs' (folios 386-387); papers concerning a request by PCL for permission from the British Government to employ a French assistant geologist (August-September 1937); a PCL report on the progress of negotiations in Abu Thabi [Abu Dhabi], February 1938 (folios 218-226); other draft agreements; minutes of meetings between British officials and PCL; statement giving the financial terms of certain oil agreements in Arabia (folios 144-147); and the prolongation of the agreement between the Ruler of Ras-al-Khaimah, Shaikh Sultan bin Salem, and Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Limited in 1941, as a result of the international situation (the Second World War, 1939-45).

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
1 file (453 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 454; 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 2-454; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. 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 30/110(2) 'Oil: Oil concessions on the Trucial Coast. Negotiations with Sheikhs. Ras-al-Khaimah Agreement. Abu Dhabi.' [‎90r] (179/917), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3836, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050244071.0x0000b6> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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