![File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [‎40r] (79/484)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0001c4/IOR_L_PS_10_557_0090.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [‎40r] (79/484)")
File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [40r] (79/484)
The record is made up of 1 item (242 folios). It was created in 1 Nov 1919-20 May 1924. 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.
are bright. It would have an excellent effect both
politically and economically if this^eil could" be
worked to benefit of Iraq State, Negotiations with
A.P.O.C. would probably provide for foundation of
two Companies, one to produce and one to pipe to
refine and to sell oil. Iraq Government arid Iraq
public might be invited to participate in ea&fe
of these by providing capital and from each Company
Iraq Government would draw 16% of profits. On
the assumption that extent of participation would be
20% in all Iraq would thus benefit by getting on the
one hand cheap oil which would be a feature of the
bargain and ? also a 36% share in profits.
Incidentally whole complexion of railway problem
would be changed and a great impetus given to
agricultural development and purchase of machinery
by this provision of che&J? fuel. Fourthly From the
foregoing it appears to me to follow that only
possible policy to pursue is one of frank recognition
of circumstances to-day. It has not yet been possible
to overcome the difficulties regarding acquisition
of site but if land were required for dock (sic) of
a refinery of which State was part owner they would
probably disappear . This however awaits the
formation of new refinery company and this again
awaits development of oilfields. This involves
acceptance by Iraq Government/protocol and
concessions: I can however hardly ask them to accord
this recognition and at the sarnie time deny them
right to push on (? provision) of property.
Such
About this item
- Content
The item comprises correspondence and other papers concerning oil exploration in territories that were part of the Ottoman Empire prior to the First World War. The item includes: reports on exploratory drilling being undertaken by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) at Naft Khana [Nafţ Khānah], in territory transferred from Persia [Iran] to Mesopotamia [Iraq] in 1914 in response to recommendations made by the Turco-Persian Boundary Commission; the question of whether APOC drilling activity at Naft Khana should be paid for out of military funds, given Britain’s military occupation and administration of Mesopotamia during and after the First World War; oil concessions in Mesopotamia in relation to the San Remo Oil Agreement (1920), signed between the British and French Governments; a 1920 survey report by the APOC geologist, William Robert Smellie, entitled ‘Oil in relation to Fars anticlines’ (ff 132-139), and a response by the Officiating Director of the Geological Survey of India, Edwin Hall Pascoe, that disagrees with Smellie’s findings (ff 100-101); British Government policy on mining and oil prospecting in Palestine; and correspondence exchanged between representatives of the Government of the United States and the Foreign Office, relating to the refusal to permit American companies to conduct oil surveys in Mesopotamia.
The item’s principal correspondence are: the Foreign Office; HM Petroleum Executive, the Civil Commissioner in Baghdad, Arnold Talbot Wilson; and representatives of the Government of the United States.
The item 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 item (242 folios)
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [40r] (79/484), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/557/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100076914801.0x00005b> [accessed 18 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100076914801.0x00005b
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_100076914801.0x00005b">File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [‎40r] (79/484)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100076914801.0x00005b"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0001c4/IOR_L_PS_10_557_0090.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_100000000419.0x0001c4/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/557/2
- Title
- File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’
- Pages
- 1r:6v, 8r:15v, 19r:28r, 30r:47v, 49r:56v, 59r:60v, 62r:63r, 65r:65v, 68r:74v, 77r:105v, 107r:131v, 140r:146v, 149r:163v, 174r:187v, 190r:190v, 193r:198v, 200r:201v, 203r:212v, 214r:229v, 231r:242v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence