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Coll 30/138 'Oil: Debai Political Agreement and Refinery Agreement.' [‎5r] (9/369)

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The record is made up of 1 file (183 folios). It was created in 2 Apr 1936-25 May 1937. It was written in English. 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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3
No. 1
Dated 5th February 1937
HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
AND PETROLEUM CONCESSIONS LIMITED
i
Agreement relating to the Debai Oil Concession
THIS AGREEMENT dated the Fifth day of February One Thousand nine
hundred and thirty-seven is made BETWEEN His Majesty’s Government
in the United Kingdom (hereinafter called “His Majesty’s Government”)
of the one part and Petroleum Concessions Limited (hereinafter called “the
Company ” which expression shall where the context so admits be deemed to
include its successors and/or assignees and shall also be deemed to include any
subsidiary Company') of the other part.
WHEREAS Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Ltd. is a subsidiary
Company of Petroleum Concessions Limited.
AND WHEREAS in the event of the Company obtaining a concession from the
Sheikh of Debai (hereinafter called “the Sheikh”) certain responsibilities will
devolve on His Majesty’s Government, the Company has agreed with His Majesty’s
Government as follows : —
1. Petroleum Concessions Limited and any subsidiary company shall be and
remain a British company registered in Great Britain and having its principal
place of business in Great Britain, and its Chairman shall at all times be a British
subject.
2. The Agreement between the Company and the Sheikh shall not be transferred
to any other company without the prior consent in writing of His Majesty’s Govern
ment and any other company to which that Agreement may be transferred shall be
and remain a British company registered in Great Britain and having its principal
place of business in Great Britain, and its Chairman shall at all times be a British
subject.
3. The employees of the Company in Debai shall at all times be British subjects
or subjects of the Sheikh, provided that, with the consent.of His Majesty’s Govern
ment, such persons of other nationality as are required for the efficient carrying on
of the undertaking may be employed.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Agreement between the Company
and the Sheikh, the importation of foreign native labour shall be subject to the
approval of 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. .
4. The Company in all except unimportant or routine matters shall deal with
the Debai authorities through a Chief Local Representative in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
who shall be a British subject. The approval of His Majesty’s Government shall
be required for the person so designated. He will be ordinarily resident in Debai
or Bahrein and will be responsible for the Company’s local relations with the
Debai authorities, which shall, except in routine or unimportant matters, be
conducted through the political representative of His Majesty’s Government in
Bahrein or through any other person whom 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 may from time to time designate.
5. Subject to the terms of the Agreement between the Company and the Sheikh
the Company undertakes at all times to pay due deference to the wishes of the
Sheikh and to the advice of 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. and of
the Political Officers subordinate to him.
6. Any right given to the Company under its Agreement with the Sheikh to
utilise means of transportation by air shall be subject to any general regulations
for civil aircraft made by the Sheikh on the advice of His Majesty’s Government,
and to any instructions which may be issued by 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. .

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Content

The file concerns the preparation and signing of two agreements relating to the Debai [Dubai] oil concession:

The papers include: comments by various British Government departments (including the Admiralty, Air Ministry, Petroleum Department and the Foreign Office); drafts of the agreements; correspondence from Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL); correspondence concerning the insertion of a pre-emption clause in the political agreement setting out the British Government's right of pre-emption of all crude oil obtained under the concession in the event of a state of national emergency or war; signed copies of the two agreements, dated 5 February 1937 (folios 20-23); and 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. confidential print entitled 'Dubai Oil Concession and Connected Documents', containing copies of the political agreement, the commercial agreement between the Shaikh of Dubai and Petroleum Concessions Limited, dated 22 May 1937, and related correspondence.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (183 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 184; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 30/138 'Oil: Debai Political Agreement and Refinery Agreement.' [‎5r] (9/369), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3872, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056260906.0x00000c> [accessed 11 June 2026]

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