![Coll 30/186 'Oil: Koweit Territorial Waters. Jurisdiction over the sub-soil beneath the sea. Off-Shore Oil in the Persian Gulf.' [‎281r] (562/737)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x0001ee/IOR_L_PS_12_3924_0575.tif .jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 30/186 'Oil: Koweit Territorial Waters. Jurisdiction over the sub-soil beneath the sea. Off-Shore Oil in the Persian Gulf.' [‎281r] (562/737)")
Coll 30/186 'Oil: Koweit Territorial Waters. Jurisdiction over the sub-soil beneath the sea. Off-Shore Oil in the Persian Gulf.' [281r] (562/737)
The record is made up of 1 file (366 folios). It was created in 10 Jul 1939-12 Apr 1948. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
^ 1274/307/ 45)
Draft Paper for the Cabinet
I recommend for the Oahinet's urgent consideration an
^-important problem like^ to affect British interests throughout the
world which has arisen out of a proclamation issued by President
Truman in September 1945* In this proclamation which forms the
annex to this paper^ the United States claims co exorcise sovereign
rights over the sub-soil of the sea which lies on the Continental
Shelf immediately adjacent to but outside the limits of United
States territorial waters. The last sentence of the Proclamation
states that the character as high seas of the waters over the
Continental Shelf and the right to their free and unimpeded
navigation arc in no way themselves affected.
2. An appreciation of the issues involved in the declaration
of this principle which has so far only become an active one
(a) off the coast of the United States; and
(b) off the coast of the British Colonies of the Bahamas and
Jamaica is set out below.
For the reasons given in this appreciation I recommend (i) that the
Cabinet should consider the desirability of taking immediate action,
in a sense similar to that proclaimed by President Truman, in
respect of the Bahamas and Jamaica by the issue of an Order in
Council under the Colonial Boundaries Act 1895 the effect of which
will be to establish British sovereignty over the sea-bed with its
natural resources up to the limits of the Continental Shelf which
surrounds those islands. (ii) that the Dominions Governments and
the Government of India be informed without delay of the contents of
this paper and bo invited to express their views on the policy which
His Majesty’s Government have provisionally decided to adopt.
3- The existence of oil and other minerals lying under the
sea bod outside territorial waters, but nevertheless off the coast of
a given country creates an international problem which has become
actual since (a) in certain are as there is every reason to suppose
oil or minerals to exist in workable quantities, and (b) the
resources of modern engineering render it possible to obtain these
minerals although they are under the sea.
About this item
- Content
The file concerns the interest of the Kuwait Oil Company in exploring for submarine oil deposits beyond the limits of Kuwait's territorial waters, and the issue of territorial waters in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. generally, in the light of the United States Government's proclamation of 1945 concerning the continental shelf [the Truman Proclamation].
The papers include: a request from the Kuwait Oil Company to the 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. for a ruling by the British Government on the extent of Kuwait territorial waters, and proposals that the company should acquire an oil concession beyond Kuwait's territorial waters, 1939; 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. minutes, and comments by the Admiralty, Petroleum Department, and Foreign Office concerning the issue, 1940; related maps; the decision that the issue should be left until the end of the war [the Second World War], 1940; copies of the proclamation issued by United States President Harry S Truman on 28 September 1945, stating that the resources on the continental shelf contiguous to the United States belonged to the United States [the Truman Proclamation] (e.g. folios 313-314); correspondence and memoranda from the Foreign Office, the 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. , the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the Government of India, 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 the Colonial Office, and minutes of interdepartmental meetings, discussing the effect of the continental shelf policy on British territories, 1945-48; the specific implications of the continental shelf policy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (for instance in the light of the Iranian claim to Bahrain); related maps; and a further expression of interest from the Kuwait Oil Company in obtaining marine oil rights beyond Kuwait territorial waters, October 1947.
There are no papers in the file dated 1941-44.
The Arabic language content of the file consists of a single letter from 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. , Kuwait (with English translation), dated 1947.
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 (366 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 367; 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 View the complete information for this record
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Coll 30/186 'Oil: Koweit Territorial Waters. Jurisdiction over the sub-soil beneath the sea. Off-Shore Oil in the Persian Gulf.' [281r] (562/737), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3924, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100080590826.0x0000a5> [accessed 30 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3924
- Title
- Coll 30/186 'Oil: Koweit Territorial Waters. Jurisdiction over the sub-soil beneath the sea. Off-Shore Oil in the Persian Gulf.'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:7v, 9r:17v, 19r:51v, 52ar, 52r:69v, 73r:73v, 76r:80v, 82r:90v, 91v:120v, 122r:169v, 172r:172v, 174r:174v, 176r:195v, 199r:231v, 233r:251v, 262r:285v, 288r:293v, 299r:299v, 302r:312v, 315r:326v, 328r:330v, 332r:359v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence