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Coll 30/110(2) 'Oil: Oil concessions on the Trucial Coast. Negotiations with Sheikhs. Ras-al-Khaimah Agreement. Abu Dhabi.' [‎162r] (323/917)

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. .

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3.
Resident, to send an ultimatum to the Sheikhs in the
following terms
’'Petroleum Concessions Limited are approved by
His Majesty’s Government and were first in the field.
They have already secured a concession from the Sheikh
of Debai on terms satisfactory to his interests and
are also offering satisfactory terms for other
concessions. His Majesty’s Government do not wish to
have more than one company operating on the Trucial
Coast as this might lead to complications. In these
circumstances His Majesty's Government are prepared to
approve agreements with Petroleum Concessions Limited
but they are not prepared to consider permitting
negotiations with any other company.”
The present position is that this ultimatum has been given
to the Sheikhs of Abu Dhabi, Umm-al-Qaiwain, Ras-al-Khaimah
and Ajman, with all of whom the Company have failed to reach
agreement. 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. , as well as the Compan^,
is now convinced that the reason why the Sheikhs concerned
are still holding out against the Company is that they are
not convinced that His Majesty's Government mean what they
say. The latest reports from the Company's local
negotiator indicate his conviction that the Trucial Sheikhs
have now persuaded themselves and each other that the
Company is, in the long run, bound to offer them whatever
they ask and that His Majesty's Government has no intention
of intervening. The Resident holds the view that we must
stick to the terms of the ultimatum and prevent the Sheikhs
entering into negotiations v/ith any other company; and he
thinks that as time goes by and the Sheikhs, by not being
permitted to enter into negotiations with any other company,
£
realisi»g that His Majesty's Government do mean to abide
by their ultimatum, will eventually accept Petroleum
Concessions Limited's terms more or less as they stand at
the moment. In such circumstances he suggests that the
Company should stick to their original terms and leave the
Sheikhs alone. The Company on the other hand whilst being
/ *
perfectly/

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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.' [‎162r] (323/917), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3836, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100050244072.0x00007e> [accessed 19 April 2024]

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