File 3877/1912 Pt 4 ‘Turkey in Asia: oil concessions’ [‎105v] (152/176)

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of London, and reported upon favourably for him by Dr. Wade, but did not start
drilling for financial difficulties, and on the advice of Dr. Wade the following licences
were also taken :—
(C .)—Nine Licences for Areas lying on the Eastern Coast of the Lead Sea. ^
These were taken by Jerusalem group in 1913.
The above two English groups having failed to start work, an option on the
Dead Sea areas (B) and (C) was subsequently given to the Standard Oil Company of
New York for six months from October 1913. This company sent out their geologists
and examined the district, and have chosen the following areas to start work upon at
once, and requested the Jerusalem group to take up the licences for them. These
areas are:—
(D.) — Seven Licences for Areas lying on the South-west of the Dead Sea.
Taken up by the Jerusalem group in 1914 for the Standard Oil Company of
New York.
The Standard Oil Company being unable to start work on all the twenty-three
areas, and drilling one well in each area each year for the first three years, as provided
in their first option, they asked to conclude an agreement for the areas (D) on which
they can start work at once, and desired the holders of licences (Bj and (C) to
retain them against a monetary remuneration; this necessitated my departure with
Ismail Bey El Husseiny, one of Jerusalem group, to New York. Being informed by
Mr. Weakley of the British Embassy in Constantinople that his desire is to find
us an English group to take these areas, and while in New York I was cabled to that
Mr. Deterding’s group were prepared to take over these areas on the terms formerly
discussed, I therefore poncluded with the Standard Oil Company a contract for the
seven areas they had picked up only, and refused to meet their request with regard to
licences (B) and (C), and came over to London to conclude a contract for them.
As Mr. Boxalls group are desirous of joining a stronger group to complete the
work, and as I am a trustee with Mr. Boxall for these licences, I approached the
Turkish Petroleum Company to take these areas as well, and are now negotiating with
them for all areas included in (A), (B), and (C), as well as for the three following
areas:—
(E-)— Three Licences for Areas in the Village of Damascus.
Taken by some members of the Haifa-Damascus group.
These licences are now offered to the Turkish Petroleum Company as above
mentioned.
Resume.
The disposition of the above thirty-two licences is at present :—
Seven in the hands of the Standard Oil Company.
Twenty-five the subject of a contract to be entered into with the Turkish
Petroleum Company.
The attached map* shows approximately the position of these areas.
* Not reproduced.