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Coll 30/83 'QATAR OIL CONCESSION, POLICY AND PROTECTION.' [‎451v] (913/1018)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (505 folios). It was created in 29 Dec 1933-12 Jul 1935. 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. .

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2
f 1
VII.
I Shaikh Abdullah, further, in particular, undertake to allow British subjects to
reside in Qatar for trade and to protect their lives and property.
VIII
I also undertake to receive, should the ^British Government deem it advisable, ap
airent from the British Government, who shall remain, at Al-Bidaa for the transaction
of such business as the British Government may have with me, and to watch over the
interests of British traders, residing at my ports or visiting them upon their lawful
occasions. ,
IX.
Further 1 undertake to allow the establishment of a British post office and a
telegraph installation anywhere in my territory whenever the British Government
should hereafter desire them. I also undertake to protect them when established.
X.
On their part, the High British Government, in consideration of these treaties and
eno-agements that I have entered into with them, undertake to protect me and my
subjects and territory from all aggression by sea, and to do their utmost to exact
reparation for all injuries that I, or my subjects, may suffer when proceeding to sea
upon our lawful occasions.
XL
They also undertake to grant me good offices, should I or my subjects be assailed
by land within the territories of Qatar. It is, however, thoroughly understood that
this obligation rests upon the British Government only in the event of such aggression,
whether by land or sea, being unprovoked by any act or aggression on the part ol
myself or my subjects against others. .
In token whereof 1, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, 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. an the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and I, Shaikh Abdullah-bin-Jasim-bin-lhani, have respectively Signed
and affixed our seal to this original document and four copies thereof.
Bated 6th Moharram, 1335, corresponding to the 3rd November, 1916.
(Signed and sealed) ABDULLAH-BIN-JASIM.
P. Z. COX, Major-General,
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. m the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(Signed) C[HELMSFORD],
Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
This treaty was ratified by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India in Council
at Delhi on the 23rd day of March A.D. one thousand nine hundred and eighteen.
(Signed) A. H. GRANT,
Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign and Political Department.
APPENDIX A.
Translation of Letter addressed by 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
to Sheikh Abdullah.
(After compliments.)
Whereas your Honour has to-day entered into and signed with me, on behalf of the
British Government, an agreement or treaty, with the object of cementing the
relations between the High British Government and yourself, and whereas youi
Honour has expressed the opinion that the time has not yet come for giving effect
to articles (7), (8), and (9), which relate to :—
(1) The admission of British subjects to Qatar for trade.
(2) 9'he admission of an agent on behalf of Government.
(8) The establishment of post and telegraph offices in your territory.
Therefore I, on behalf of the British Government, accept your opinion,
hereby inform you that the British Government see no present necessity for e

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Content

The volume concerns British Government policy towards Qatar in the light of the bid by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) to obtain a concession from the Shaikh of Qatar (Abdullah bin Qasim al Thani [‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī]) to produce oil in the country. The British Government were keen that the concession should be obtained by a British company (APOC) and not by the Americans (Standard Oil Company of California). The oil concession was granted to APOC in 1935.

The papers include: discussion of policy by various British Government departments and officials (notably 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. , Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle; the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department; and the Foreign Office); the security of Qatar against raids from the Arabian interior; relations between Qatar and Ibn Saud [Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia]; the decision of the British Government to offer military protection to Qatar in exchange for the granting of the oil concession to APOC (including discussions by the Committee of Imperial Defence, and its Standing Official Sub-committee for Questions concerning the Middle East); the development of air facilities in Qatar as a means of protecting the state, including correspondence from the Air Ministry; discussion of the Qatar boundary; note of a conversation between 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 Haji Williamson (folios 147-148); the surrender to the British Government of jurisdiction over British subjects, British-protected persons, and non-Muslim foreigners in Qatar; the recognition of Shaikh Hamad as successor to the Shaikh of Qatar; British opposition to a request by the Shaikh of Qatar for machine guns and armoured cars, because of the provocative effect this would have on Ibn Saud (folios 33-35); agreement that the 1916 treaty between the British Government and the Shaikh of Qatar should be binding on his heirs and successors; and the terms on which military protection was to be afforded by the British Government (folios 12-14).

The papers also include correspondence between the Shaikh of Qatar and 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 papers include one item of an earlier date than the main date range: a copy of the 1916 treaty between the British Government and the Shaikh of Qatar (folios 451-452).

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 volume (505 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 commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 501; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 30/83 'QATAR OIL CONCESSION, POLICY AND PROTECTION.' [‎451v] (913/1018), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3800, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100057526960.0x000072> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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