File 537/1921 Part 2 'Persia: Oil - A.P.O. Co's development of new oil-fields; Oil Boring at Dasht-i-Qil; A.P.O. Co's agreement with Kashkuli Khans' [‎289r] (249/254)

n
Enclosure 4.
Translation of letter, dated 18 th October 1931, from Resident Director, Messrs. Strick Scott
and Company, Limited, Managing Agents, Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, to
' Soulat-ud-Danlah.
—With reference to the message which was communi
cated on your behalf to His Majesty’s Legation through Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Eakhar, I
take this opportunity of confirming the reply wdiich I requested His Majesty’s
Ministei through the 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. at Lushire to send, so far as the interests
of this Company were concerned, namely, tiiat far from wishing to ignore
the position which you occupy in the province of Ears, I hoped before long to
meet you in person.
Owing to the fact that you have until now been in the high country I
have been unable to do so, but when you are in the low country I shall hope
to have the pleasure of meeting you with a view to negotiations.
Please write to me through the Sheikh of Mohammerah informing me of
your whereabouts and of the date that would be convenient for a meeting.
In the meanwhile I look confidendally to you to avoid any action which
might be inimical to the interests of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in their
work in the Kashkuli country so that subsequent negotiations between us may
not be impeded.
I understand that there are springs of oil at Naujain and elsewhere in
your neighbourhood and I shall hope to investigate them at the same time.
Enclosure 5.
Official record of proceedings leading up to signature of agreement dated 14th October 1921
between the Kashkuli Khans and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited.
- > v ^ A
]. The first meeting took place on the afternoon of October 12th and was
of a preliminary nature only. On the afternoon of October 13 fh, representa
tive Khans of all families having arrived, the agreement was drafted in
Persian.
2. The method of division was explained to Hadi Khan who has from the
beginning been the strongest supporter of the Company and in fact induced
the other Khans to collect for this conference. Hadi Khan represented that
in deference to our wishes he would agree to forfeit a sum of 250 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in
favour of Hasan Quli Beg hoping that by so doing Ahul Path Khan would
agree to forfeit a similar sum to Hamza Beg.
The obiect of this was to meet the views of Sir A. T. H ilson, who was
anxious to have as few parties as possible, not more than six, to deal with
both now and subsequently.
3 The principal point made by the Khans during the conversation was
the enmity of Soulat-ud-Dauleh which they feared they would incur in a more
violent form than previously owing to their having ignored him in signing
the agreement with us. They made it clear, however, that they by no means
Wished, and could not consent, to see him a party to the contract. eir
view was that it was incumbent on the Company and on His Majesty s Gov-
ernment to shield them so far as possible from the consequences of having at
the desire of His Majesty’s Government and. of the Company conclude is
aoreement. After discussion between His Majesty s Consul, ^ hlra > a
Sir AT Wilson it was decided that when the latter met Soulat-ud-Dau e
he would explain to the latter the reasons why we were unable to make him a
party of the agreement, namely, that he was not in a posi j' ^
Company at Dasht-i-Qil nor to offer them assistance theie he would further
represent to him that the Company would possibly de * ,re , ° JhI' l Th!v would
other parts of the Qashgai country {e.g., Naujain near Jneh) when they would
he glad to seek his assistance and to pay for it and further subject of h
approval of the Board of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company that provided he