![Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎113r] (228/603)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000176/IOR_L_PS_12_3806B_00231.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎113r] (228/603)")
Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [113r] (228/603)
The record is made up of 1 file (296 folios). It was created in 6 Jan 1945-13 Apr 1948. It was written in English. 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.
following general conclusions from the discussions on this
question:
"(a) That an island proper and having its own territorial
waters, must be permanently uncovered at high tide and be
capable of use and occupation. It need not, perhaps, be
entirely natural, provided it is not a mere floating work
and rests on the sea-bed.
(b) On the other hand, near the mainland, i.e., within
the territorial belt, and for the purpose of establishing
a base-line along the mainland, an "island** may consist of
a mere rock or bank if uncovered at low water .’ 1
It would I think be consistent with our practice in the
past and with the views which we have expressed on the
international law on the matter and with the conclusions to
which, judging from Mr. Pitzmaurice*s analysis, the discussions
of the Conference were leading^ to consider a shoal of rock
outside the territorial belt as an island having territorial
waters only if it is (a) uncovered at high tide and (b) capable
of use and occupation, meaning that it must be at least
capable of human use and habitation in its present state.
There is no contrary pronouncement on the legal position by any
authority which we ought to follow, and I am, therefore, of the
opinion that these tests should be applied by us in the case
of Dibal and Jaradah.
We are informed thatt-
(a) Dibal consists of a coral reef which is completely
submerged at high water except for a cairn built by the
Bahrein Government and a small square of wall built to protect
the head of an artesian well, sunk by the oil company which
holds the oil concession over Bahrein. The wall is damaged
and out of action.
(b) Jaradah is a sand bank of which an area of about
twenty yards by ten yards is permanently above water. It
also has a cairn erected by the Bahrein Government and an
artesian well, the history of which is not stated. The base
of the cairn and the well which is sealed are both below high
water level.
My conclusion, therefore, is that Dibal and Jaradah
could not on the evidence be said to be capable of human use
and habitation in their present state and they should not be
considered to be islands having territorial waters.
About this item
- Content
The file concerns the operations of Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) (and its subsidiary Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited) in Qatar. Of particular importance in the file is the issue of the division of the sea bed for drilling operations between PCL's concession, and that of the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited (BAPCO) in Bahrain.
The file contains discussion of the issue 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 Foreign Office, the Ministry of Fuel and Power, 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 papers cover: the resumption of drilling operations in Qatar after their suspension during the Second World War; payment of royalties; the Hawar Islands; the granting of permission to use wireless sets; the response of British officials to a United States Government request to PCL for information on petroleum resources in Qatar and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , October-November 1946; aerial surveys of the Bahrain-Qatar Unallotted Area; the application of US President Harry S Truman's continental shelf doctrine to the issue (e.g. folios 141, 110); maps of the area; Admiralty comments on the need for all parties to be aware that the sea bed only was concerned, and that the waters above, and free navigation, were in no way affected (folio 46); correspondence from the oil companies involved; and the reactions of local rulers to the negotiations.
The file also contains five maps.
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 (296 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 296; 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. Foliation anomaly: 268a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [113r] (228/603), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3806B, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056534850.0x00001e> [accessed 3 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100056534850.0x00001e
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_100056534850.0x00001e">Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎113r] (228/603)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100056534850.0x00001e"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000176/IOR_L_PS_12_3806B_00231.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000648.0x000176/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3806B
- Title
- Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.'
- Pages
- front, back, front-i, 2r:4v, 7r:12v, 15r:15v, 16v:17v, 18v:22v, 31r:51v, 52v:85v, 86v:104v, 105v:123v, 125r:130v, 131v:155v, 157r:167v, 168v:211v, 212v:218v, 230r:233v, 234v:239v, 242r:243v, 244v:254v, 258r:266v, 267v:268v, 268ar:268av, 269r:271v, 272v, 275r:282v, 283v:286v, 296r:296v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence