'File 38/3 I, P. C. L. Qatar Concession' [113r] (230/484)
The record is made up of 1 volume (238 folios). It was created in 2 May 1940-15 Mar 1947. 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
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CONFIDENTIAL
No.C/41.
Political
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
,
Bahrain, 9th January 1945,
From
To
Sir,
or T* Hickinbotham, C.I*E., O.B.E.,
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.
,
Bahrain.
The Hon’lde 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.
,
Bushire.
I haYe the honour to refer to your telegram No.2217
dated the 11th December 1944 and to enclose a copy of a letter,
No.DO/CU.1/3878 dated the 8th of January 1945 with enclosures,
which I have received from the General Manager of Messrs.
Petroleum Concessions Limited which was in answer to my mamo-
randum No.C/1751 dated the 10th of December 1944 (a copy of
which is enclosed) which was issued on receipt of Government
of India telegram No.16306 dated the 9th December 1944.
2. The Shaikh of Qatar f s present unreasonable and stubborn
attitude is in some measure due to the policy of appeasement
which it has been necessary to follow for the past few years
but I consider th^t the time has come when it is no longer
desirable for such a policy to be continued and that we should
advise the Company to adhere strictly to the conditions of the
Qatar Oil Agreement.
3. I therefore suggest that I inform Messrs, petroleum
Concessions Limited that the Hon f ble 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.
is not prepared to press the Government of India to permit the
export of quarternary
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
as, in accordance with the provi
sions of Article 20 of the Qatar Oil Concession Agreement, the
Company are within their rights in either making payment in
rupee notes or by crediting the shaikh*s account with the
Eastern Bank Limited, Bahrain.
4. I do not consider it necessary or desirable for any
communication to be made by this
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
to the shaikh of Qatar
/at
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence relating to the work of Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited, a subsidiary of Petroleum Concessions Limited, in Qatar. The correspondence is principally between 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. in Bahrain, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire [ Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ], representatives of Petroleum Concessions Limited (at their offices in Bahrain and the United Kingdom) and Petroleum Development (Qatar) Limited (in the field in Qatar), 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 Government of India, the ruler of Qatar, Abdulla bin Qasim al Thani [‘Abdullāh bin Qāsim Āl Thānī], and the ruler of Bahrain, Salmān bin Ḥamad Āl Khalīfah.
The papers contained in the volume cover the following matters:
- the employment of foreign workers within the oil industry in Qatar, particularly that of Americans, Portuguese Goans, and Bahrainis;
- the expansion of drilling operations during the early stages of the Second World War;
- plans for a sea terminal on the Qatari coast, and a pipeline to any such port;
- the striking of oil at a new second well in March 1941;
- the form and method of payment of the concession royalties to the Shaikh of Qatar by the oil company;
- measures taken by the Oil Control Board to ensure continuing supplies of oil during the Second World War;
- the reopening of the Qatar oil fields following a short closure due to war;
- rates of pay and provision of meals for oil workers.
Also within the volume is a report by the Acting 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. , William Rupert Hay, on his visit to Qatar on 13 November 1941 (folios 64-66) and a petition to the ruler of Bahrain (folios 148-52) signed by thirty-six Bahraini pearl merchants and boat captains; it complains that higher wages in the Qatar oil industry are attracting essential divers away from the pearling boats (folios 148-52).
At the back of the file (folios 224-37) are internal office notes.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (238 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged chronologically.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 5-223; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. 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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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/864
- Title
- 'File 38/3 I, P. C. L. Qatar Concession'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:5v, 7r:9v, 11r:11v, 13r:14v, 16r:24v, 26r:26v, 28r:31v, 34r:37v, 39r:41v, 53r:54v, 57r:60v, 62r:67v, 69r:69v, 71r:73v, 75r:76v, 81r:86v, 90r:91v, 93r:95v, 99r:100v, 103r:107v, 110r:116v, 119r:121v, 123r:126v, 128r:128v, 130r:130v, 133r:134v, 136r:136v, 138r:140v, 153r:154v, 157r:157v, 161r:161v, 164r:164v, 167r:168v, 172r:172v, 174r:174v, 177r:180v, 183r:183v, 187r:194v, 196r:201v, 205r:205v, 211r:214v, 216r:221v, 224r:239v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence