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File 2249/1915 Pt 2 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia and Persia: oil; Sir J Cowan's deputation & Standard Oil Co.’ [‎7r] (22/598)

The record is made up of 1 volume (294 folios). It was created in 1919-1921. 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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-
SECRET.
cAl M OIL ij‘1 xuLDIj >
Date of Keport, a5th January 19^1.
.i r o O
i w -. j
! Cj ■ ) I
i'he following info mat Ion wae givtm us by one of the
chiefi? of the Prussian oeourity uffioes in Berlin, xhe
informiint was one of the foremost oil scientists in Germany
about twenty years ago and has written some books on che
subject. His present post under Govarnmont comprises, as well
us public becurity, secret service at home, uxid we think also
abroad. it is believed that he has given this information in
good faith and believing it to be true:-
it is probable that the American oil Combine was the
instigator of the unrest in Mesopotamia, which was certainly
not Bolshevistic and hod nothing to do with mobcow.
darly in December last a party of officials of the Standard
Oil Trust arrived in Paris from dimeric a. They wore lea by the
vice-president, a Mr* Bedford and a prominent director, mt.
Sadler. In Paris they conferred with various directors of french
Oil interests. Several of the loss prominent of the party have
since been in Berlin v/hero thoy have, at various times, been
reported as having been in close touch with members of the
considerable Indi^oi Colony.
Our informant also states as having a possible connection
with che same subject, that ho himself saw an intercepted
letter written by "a high french personage in Paris" to his
friend "a high french 03 , U r i ^ ischkent (Turkestan)", ..
expressing IEEgT view that all trouble in India could only bo
to prance* s advantage in the long run and should therefore be
encouraged. The connection is not obvious.
k
w.
I-
Date of MQport, 14th February 19al.
heferenoe our report of Bbth January 19 b1.
*.e have had another interview with the person mentioned,
who states that he is now able to confirm with certainty that
his suspicions of that ti-e are correct.
ilo has had the agents of the standard oil Company in
Berlin observed in their dealings with certain natives having
influence in Mesopotamia, and from the result of this and other
evidence in his possession, there is no more room for doubc
that che Standard oil Company have for a considerable time
boon exerting all their influence to promote unrest in
liosopotamia and disaffection with British rule.

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Content

Correspondence and other papers relating to oil exploration and the acquisition of oil concessions in Mesopotamia [Iraq] (and to a lesser degree, Persia [Iran]) by oil companies. The companies involved are: the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC); the Shell Transport Company (STC, also referred to as the Anglo-Saxon Oil Company), led by chief negotiator John Steven Cowans; the Standard Oil Company of New York (SOC). The correspondence covers: Cowans’s trip to Mesopotamia on behalf of STC; reports of SOC geologists to Mesopotamia; the British Government’s decision that all oil exploration and efforts at obtaining concessions in Mesopotamia should be stopped while the country remains under military administration; the retention of STC experts for oil exploration for military purposes; APOC exploration in the Pasht-i-Kuh region of Persia, and the company’s negotiations with the local Vali (or Wali), rather than the Persian Government; the refusal by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to authorise visas to British SOC representatives wishing to travel to Mesopotamia; suspicions amongst British Government officials that SOC were supporting and financing anti-British sentiment in Mesopotamia; the withdrawal of oil representatives and geologists in Mesopotamia from August 1920, in response to the social unrest and anti-British sentiment spreading across the country (the 1920 Iraqi revolt).

The volume’s principal correspondents are: the Civil Commissioner in Baghdad, Arnold Talbot Wilson; Foreign Office officials; 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. officials.

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 (294 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 2249 (Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia) consists of 3 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/555-557. The volumes are divided into 4 parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume, and parts 3 and 4 comprising the third volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 292; 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 between ff 165-292, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

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English in Latin script
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File 2249/1915 Pt 2 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia and Persia: oil; Sir J Cowan's deputation & Standard Oil Co.’ [‎7r] (22/598), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/556, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100080341705.0x000017> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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