Coll 30/114 'Proceedings of H.M. Ships.' [‎458r] (915/1203)

7* It «&• farther points out to th« tiiat fcajor
Hoiaoe w&« l^ngltah, bat ha4 Amor loan par inert t and that it
waa im<iaratoo4 that h« mx* now la London arranging for &»
entiroXy LngXiah ooncerzu Alao that unleew lajor Holloa had
found auch a corapany ho would not be allowed to hare any
ooneeealoxi la Abu Jhabl by E.M. Governnent-
a. another point of whioh the ahaiich appeared anxloua
wae the pooaibiUty of mior HolEieB’ xt* arriwal in Abu Idiabl
before penalaalon wat reoeired frois the Honourable the
lolltienl Heeideat to oonelude aa ^greeweat# He was lafort^ed
that Major Holmes would not Tie it tho JhaiJihdot without
pern lea ion from the ^olitioal authoritiee, though in riow of
Major Holmea* pronlee to come baoh in i-uguat It la not thought
that he believed thl«»
9« ihere seened little doubt that the 3haihh was
optlislatie as regards his territory being oil bearing. He
mentioned that bubbles of oil hsd been seen la the water around
one or »ore of his oo&etal islands and that a tarry deposit
had also been washed ur^on their shores* It was understood
that these lairds were situated between Abu Lhabi and fas
but the 3hal&h ms most definite that no outsider should
investigate without hie pemlssion* He oomplained ef having
been treated oavalierly in this reapeot by former A«P*0«C*
investigators 9 and it is suggested that if the shaikh is treated
with taet and courtesy In this respect, better results will aesrus
10 • au&w&rlse, the dhalkht*
(a) wishes his territory to be exmdned for oil preferably
by lajor Bolmes in whom he believes, but he is wining that an
A*B.0*C. geologist should do thle first, should P,K. so prefer,
and no delays are entailed*
(b) Wishes to negotiate a oonoesalon with Major
Molmos if olitiOHl resident will allow it*
(o) Haa been promised a letter or visit from Major
Holmes by B&d-August.
(d) Is jealous of his prerogative and wishes any
geologist sent to obtain hie permission to ueareh in areas
desired, before doing so*
11* I found the shaikh very friendly, obviously sorry
for his provious misdeeds and anxious to make amends; very
anxious for dlsousslon on his problems which lasted 40 minutes;
with a keen business instinct, intelligent and quick on a point;
he Is touchy ones resentful of any slight on his ohaUchly dignity*