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Coll 30/123(3) 'Bahrein (Unallotted Zone) Oil Concession: Negotiations with the Bahrain Petroleum Company.' [‎151r] (301/1108)

The record is made up of 1 file (547 folios). It was created in 9 Jan 1939-6 Jun 1947. 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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CCUlCltt dated the day of
One thousand nine
hundred and forty is made BETWEEN MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN
THE UNITED KINGDOM (hereinafter called "Hrs Majesty*s Government") of
the one part and the BAHREIN PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED (hereinafter
called "the Company" which expression shall where the context so admits
be deemed to include its successors and/or assignees and shall also be
deemed to include any subsidiary Company) of the other part
WHEREAS the Company having knowledge of the protection
afforded by His Majesty's Government to and enjoyed by the Sheikh of
Bahrein (hereinafter called "the Sheikh") and having by the several
Agreements dated the Twenty ninth day of December One thousand nine
hundred and thirty four the Third day of June One thousand nine hundred
and thirty six and the Nineteenth day of June One thousand nine hundred
and forty obtained with the knowledge of His Majesty's Government the
several concessions mentioned in such Agreements in regard to petroleum
and matters relating to petroleum over the whole of the present and
future territories of the Sheikh and having every desire to submit to
the influence of His Majesty's Government within the confines of such
■Eerritories has agreed with His Majesty's Government as follows:-
THE Company shall be and remain a British Company registered in the
British Empire and shall maintain an office in Great Britain which shall
at all times be in the charge of a British subject who shall be a
recognised channel of communication between the Company and His
Majesty's Government.
NOTWITHSTANDING anything contained in the Agreements between the
Company and the Sheikh those Agreements shall not be transferred to any
other Company without the prior consent in writing of His Majesty's
Government. It is understood by the Company that any transactions
which have as their object or possible result the passing of control
over the Company's operations to foreign or other American interests
shall not be effected without prior ascertainment of the views of His
Majesty's Government.
AT least one of the Directors of the Company shall at all times be
a British subject who shall be persona grata to His Majesty's
Government.' His selection for appointment as Director shall be made in
consultation with His Majesty's Government and his salary as Director
shall be provided by the Company. A reasonable time shall be allowed
for the replacement of the British Director in the event of this post
falling vacant.
THE Company in all except unimportant or routine matters shall deal
with the Bahrein Government through a Chief Local Representative in
Bahrein who shall be a British subject and who shall be the recognised
channel of communication between the Company and the Bahrein Government.
All communications which that official may desire on behalf of the
Company to address to the Bahrein Government concerning amendments to or
interpretations of the Mining Lease or any supplements thereof or
concerning any other matters of direct concern to His Majesty's
Government as indicated by His Britannic Majesty's 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. shall
be made through His Britannic Majesty's 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. in Bahrein.
Communications with the Bahrein Government relating only to the conduct
or regulation of ordinary company operations may be directly between
the Chief Local Representative and the Adviser to the Bahrein Government
with copies to 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. . The approval of His Majesty's
Government shall be required for the person so designated. A reasonable
time shall be allowed for the replacement of the Chief Local
Representative in the event of the post falling vacant.
AS many of the employees of the Company in Bahrein as is consistent
with the efficient carrying on of the undertaking shall at all times be
British subjects or subjects of the Sheikh.

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Content

The file title has been amended from 'Petroleum Concessions Ltd' to read 'the Bahrain Petroleum Company'.

The file concerns negotiations between the Government of Bahrain and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), which resulted in the Company receiving exclusive oil concession rights over the Bahrain Unallotted Area (consisting of the offshore waters around the main island of Bahrain and the Hawar Islands), negotiations over the drafting of the concession agreements, and the progress of operations in the area. The file contains a large amount of correspondence from representatives of BAPCO.

The papers include: British Government approval for the preferred option of the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Sir Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifah [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], to give the whole of the Unallotted Area to BAPCO rather than dividing it between BAPCO and Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL), 1939; drafts and signed copies of (1) the political agreement relating to the Bahrain oil concessions between HM Government and BAPCO, and (2) the agreement between the Ruler of Bahrain and BAPCO supplementing BAPCO's original lease, 1939-40; comments on the drafts of the agreements and the progress of negotiations 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 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. ; comments on the drafts of the agreements by the Foreign Office, Petroleum Department, and the Admiralty (including the issue of territorial waters); correspondence and agreement concerning the temporary transfer of BAPCO geological plans and other records out of Bahrain as a result of wartime conditions, 1941; correspondence concerning an agreed moratorium on all operations by BAPCO in the Additional (previously Unallotted) Area as a result of wartime conditions, 1941-43; correspondence concerning the probable length of life of the Bahrain oilfield, 1946; and papers concerning the resumption of full operations by the Company, 1946-47, including a four-year extension to the BAPCO lease as a result of the moratorium.

The Arabic language content of the papers consists of drafts and signed copies of the oil agreement in both English and Arabic, and correspondence between British officials and the Ruler of Bahrain, with English translations.

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 (547 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 548; 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(3) 'Bahrein (Unallotted Zone) Oil Concession: Negotiations with the Bahrain Petroleum Company.' [‎151r] (301/1108), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3855, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100074498392.0x000068> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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