"ملف ١٤/١ - مجلد ٦ - الامتيازات النفطية في مسقط" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٦] (٤٣٨/٣٧١)

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CONFIDENTIAL . Political Agency 9 Muscat*
No.C 291-14A dated the 4th July, 1948*
Will ypu please refer to correspondence resting
with your note dated 16th June, 1948, and Bird^ letter to Jackson
dated the 6 th June, sent under endorsement No.M/57 (86/61 ) dated
the 18th June, concerning P.C.L. Explorations in Muscat territories ?
^ /j»7
One naturally cannot express any definite opinion
about the oil situation without possessing the full facts and with
out a much more complete knowledge of the complicated affairs of
Buraimi than I am ever likely to have.
3* The Sultan did remark, however, in conversAtion
recently, that he considered Bird had let him down by starting
direct negotations again in Buraimi after having agreed to work
through the Sultan ( vide para 4 (e) of Bird^ letter to me, copy
of which was forwarded under cover of my D.O. No.C 247-14/1 dated
the 17th May ). ^
4« I know that Bird does not hold a very high opinion
*
of the Sultan, and I feel that sometimes his attitude may be
somewhat too hostile. He no doubt has his reasons, but I should
imagine that he would make greater progress by a more friendly
approach. Saiyid Ahmad bin Ibrahim is now in Buraimi and I
believe there is every prospect of the Sultan being able to open
the Wadi Jizzi without much trouble. I gathered this impression
from the Wali of Khaburah during my tour.
Yours sincerely,
His Excellency Sir Rupert Hay, KCIE, CSI.,
Political Resident, Persian Gulf,
Bahrain.
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