Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎219r] (444/603)

Copy of letter dated the 4th October, 1946, from Parker
P* Hart, Esq., American consul, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to g.V.
Packer, Esq., Manager, Qatar & Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Operations, Petro
leum Development Limited, Manama, Bahrain.
You will recall that some time ago j spoke with you in
regard to my instruction from the Department of state and from
^the U.S. Petroleum Attache at Cairo, requiring me to submit
Reports in regard to petroleum resources, developments in petro
leum production and marketing, and petroleum forecasts in this
-consular district. Because of the great interest of many branches
of the United States Government in this subject, I am instructed
to make these reports as detailed and as exhaustive as possible,
consisting in:
1. An initial report .on i»x&xtaEK±JEg outstanding current
petroleum problems.
2. Special reports on important developments at the
time they arise.
3. Regular monthly reports on development of current
problems, general items, and pertinent statistics.
4. Annual reports (or termination report on departure
of the reporting officer) analyzing the problems of
the preceding year (or period) and discussing probable
future trends and developments.
I mentioned to you at that time that since petroleum
Development, Ltd., a 23.75$ share of which is owned by American
interests, is now about to begin drilling and active development
of its Qatar field; and since it is also planning further
active surveys in the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and possibly other regions
where it holds concession, I wished to submit direct to you the
outline questionnaire transmitted to me by the petroleum Attache
at Cairo, giving the types of information desired by the United
States Government. You stated that you would transmit this
questionnaire to your London headquarters, requesting instructions
as to your reply to me.
The questionnaire is enclosed, in duplicate, and I shall
be grateful if you will forward it as rapidly as possible;
since I am informed that your drilling string is arriving and
may begin operations at an early date.
With regard to the security of information contained in
reports from this Consulate on petroleum matters, I am instructed
to mark as confidential all items which are to be reserved for
the exclusive perusal of principal officers of the Department and
other branches of my Government. Consequently, any information
which you provide to this office which is to be kept confidential
had best be appropriately marked by you in order that I may
follow your Company's wishes in this matter.