ملف ١٩١٥/٢٢٤٩ الجزء ٤ "النفط: بلاد الرافدين وبلاد فارس. (ملف عام) ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [ظ‎‎٢‎٢‎٢] (٤٨٤/٤٤٤)

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and as guarantors of the new Mesopotamian State.
It was however agreed that if the American
Government should protest against the Company ozing
allowed to monopolise the exploitation oi these
wells as contrary to the principles of the Peace
Conference in regard to the terms of occupied
territories, His Majesty’s Government will he able
to rejoin that while fully in agreement with the
general principle they were bound to recognise an
agreement which had been made with the Compony
before the Tar”.
Sir A. Hirtzal stated that this point was not
included in the official minutes nor would the fact
that an agreement had been made with the Company
before the war be now considered a sufficient
justification of their operations^ enquired
whether the attitude of America with regard to the
mandate which has been made clear since Lord Curzon’s
declaration of policy,would not alter the Foreign
Office views.
Mr. Teakley replied that the "^oireign Office
could not in any way go back on Lord Curzon’s letter.
cLauJr^l
Mr. Millar s^led^ha-t due weight had been
accorded to the argument^ that the concession was
one which was already being worked before the war.
The case of the A.P.O.C. was/not fc commencement of
the working of a new concession, but the continuance
of a development which was already proceeding,
Mr. Claris pointed out that the mere fact
that work was in progress had not been acceptechin 7
the case of the Shell officials. They were
actively prospecting and had actually drawn up four
reports when their operations were stopped.
Mr. Garbett pointed out that there were at
least two arguments which could be used, the first,
that the work was being undertaken on behalf of
Government
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