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Coll 30/123(2) 'Bahrein (Unallotted Zone) Oil Concession: Negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Ltd.' [‎19r] (37/1195)

The record is made up of 1 file (596 folios). It was created in 4 May 1938-19 May 1939. 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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i
/
( ENCLOSURE M A!P, HaIL LETTLii
&x>
ir^ L A?*D
P.Z.2997/39
L
Code telegram from Secretary of State to Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. repeated to
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. ; Bahrein, dated 12th May,
1939, number of words 223 + 228.
Important.
857. Addressed 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. , repeated Bahrein, copy to
India Toy mail.
Petroleum Concessions Ltd. have let me Rnow informally that
they understand that statements are Being made in Bahrein to
the effect that the Sheikh considers that the recent message
from H.M.G. (my express letter of 25th April, P.Z.2067) means
that H.M.G. are instructing him to give a concession for the
whole of the Unallotted Area to the Bahrein Petroleum Company
and that hut for this he might still consider a different course.
2. If suggestions are in fact Being made that H.M.G. have given
instructions to the Sheikh they are of course Based on mis
apprehensions which it would seem desirable to remove. At this
end I am informing P.C.3. of the facts, namely, that Sheikh,
after long negotiations with the two Companies and careful
consideration of all the aspects came to the conclusion that the
interests of Bahrein would Be Best served By accepting the offer
of the 3.P.C. for the whole area (including the Hawar Islands).
His Highness addressed a considered letter to the Political
Agent in this sense, informing H.i .G. accordingly, while adding
that Before making a final decision he wished to avail himself
of the offer of advice which at the commencement of the
negotiations trey had said that they would Be prepared to offer
on their conclusion. H.M.G. on receiving this communication
decided that there w r as no reason to advise the Sheikh in any
contrary to his own views arrived at after such careful
consideration of his interests. They accordingly informed His
Highness that, on certain conditions in regard to detail, they
were prepared to approve his proposal to give the whole of his
concession/

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Content

The file concerns negotiations between the Government of Bahrain and two oil companies: Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) over oil concession rights in the Bahrain Unallotted Area, i.e. those parts of Bahrain territory (including the Hawar Islands), and offshore areas, not forming part of the concession awarded to BAPCO in 1925. The papers show that the Ruler of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifah [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], initially wished to divide the Unallotted Area between the two companies, but later wished to award the Unallotted Area in its entirety to BAPCO, subject to the approval of the British Government.

The file contains correspondence from representatives of both companies, 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 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; British Government departments; Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain; and the Ruler of Bahrain.

The papers include: draft PCL agreements; comments on the progress of negotiations by 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; the views of the Foreign Office, Petroleum Department, and the Admiralty; a description by 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 (Hugh Weightman) of the areas to be offered to the two companies, based largely on an aerial survey (folios 536-540); the territorial status of the Hawar Islands; the financial implications of the two potential concessions; minutes of a meeting between British Government 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. , 7 July 1938 (folios 346-352); the issue of underwater boring for oil, and territorial waters; the role in the negotiations of the PCL representative, Major Frank Holmes; minutes of meetings between the Government of Bahrain and the representative of PCL; minutes of meetings between the Government of Bahrain and the representative of BAPCO; a comparative statement of the offers made by the two companies (folio 94); and a further bid by Holmes and PCL in 1939 for rights over the 'Shoal Area', Bahrain.

The Arabic content of the file consists of a letter from the Ruler of Bahrain, with English translation, and the bilingual texts of draft concession agreements between PCL and the Ruler of Bahrain.

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 (596 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 597; 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 30/123(2) 'Bahrein (Unallotted Zone) Oil Concession: Negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Ltd.' [‎19r] (37/1195), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3854, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054901060.0x000028> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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