مراسلات بشأن الامتيازات في البحرين والكويت وغيرها بين ١٩٣٢-يوليو ١٩٣٣ (مطبوع سري رقم ٤٩ للمكتب الاستعماري في الشرق الأوسط) [ظ‎‎٨‎٠] (٢٨٤/١٦٢)

134
3. The chief distinction between the three concessions is in the area to be leased.
In the lirst concession no specific area is mentioned and the reference throughout is
to Kuwait territory: in the second the area is 640 square miles divided into as many
blocks as the 'Company choose, while in the present concession the area is no less t lan
1,640 square miles. . i tv -p
4. The previous concession was very severely criticised by the Director or the
Geological Survey of India from the technical point of view. I would venture to state
that I entirely agree, from the political point of view, with his view that the expiession
" conceded territory " is open to the gravest objection, and with that expiessed by
the Government of India that anything suggesting an imperium in imperio should be
avoided, and that it should be definitely laid down in the agreement that the Company s
employees shall be subject to the administrative and legal authority of the bhaik i to
the same extent as other foreigners resident in Kuwait territory.
5. The area of 1,640 square miles would certainly seem to be very excessive,
but if the proposal made by the Director of the Geological Survey of India is accepted
and a dead rent charged, it will presumably be very considerably reduced.
6. Doctor Termor points out that Clause 5 would preclude the exercise of pre
emption in time of war, either by the Shaikh of Kuwait or the British Government.
As it is proposed to insist on this right of pre-emption— vide your telegram No. 3,
dated the 9th May, 1932*—I presume this necessary amendment will be made. In
paragraph 26 of his notet the Director of the Geological Survey oi India has further
suggested that His Majesty's Government should object to Major Frank Holmes being
Chief Local Representative in Kuwait as well as in Bahrein. I entirely agree with this
view. The Company have apparently struck oil in Bahrein, and it is probable that
they will in consequence in the near future considerably extend their operations and
increase the number of their employees. If so, there will be many matters of detail
arising for discussion between the Company and the Bahrein Government, and it is
essential that the local Representative ofi the Company should be permanently located
at Bahrein. At present Major Holmes only visits it periodically, and it is obvious that
he cannot attend to the work in Bahrein if he also occupies a similar position at Kuwait.
I may mention that I do not consider Major Holmes a particularly desirable person,
and should be glad to see him replaced by some one else in Bahrein when occasion
offers. In any case, however, he should not be the local Representative in Kuwait.
7. I would suggest that in view of the opinion expressed by the Director of the
Geological Survey of India in paragraph 15 of his note an entirely fresh concession
should be drafted embodying those of his suggestions which His Majesty's Government
consider desirable to incorporate and also the safeguards, and that it should be discussed
with the Syndicate in London on the understanding that it does not necessarily bind
the Shaikh. I regard discussions out here as very unsatisfactory, as the Shaikh is
a child in the hands of Major Holmes, while neither Colonel Dickson nor I possess any
technical knowledge.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Government of India.
I have, &c.,
H. V. BISCOE,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
C. 98019/32 [No. 14]. AT ^
No. 149.
LIEUTENANT -COLONEL H. V. BISCOE (Political Resident)
to
MR. A. C. C. PARKINSON (Colonial Office).
(Received 7th July, 1932.)
(Confidential.)
DO No. 432-S of 1932.
My dear Parkinson , The Residency, Bushire, 28th June, 1932.
Will you please refer to my demi-official letter No. 346-S of 31st May, 19324
regarding the Kuwait oil.
* No. 140.
t Sub-enclosure in No. 138.
t No. 147.