Coll 30/87(2) Part II 'Qatar: Oil Concession - P.C.L.'s Operations.' [‎265r] (536/603)

EXPRESS LETTER*
Prom - 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.
To - . 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , (Camp) Bahrain.
No.c/528.
Dated the 23rd of May, 1946.
I enclose a copy of a letter from the chief Local
Representative of the Bahrain petroleum Company together
with a photographic map showing the Additional Area.
2. My comments are:-
(1) The moratorium was agreed upon at the request
* of the company, and as now war conditions do not prevail I
presume His Majesty^ Government will have no objection to
its termination as soon as BAPCO inform me that they are in
a position to resume operations.
(2) The locations. These can conveniently be
divided into four groups: (x) the Jarim and Portuguese
Fore group, (y) Jaradeh and Jabal group, (z) Hawar, and
(j) Sowad Janubiya.
(i) As regards (x). This Is not in dispute
and is definitely situated in the Additional Area. Drilling
Kc - , t „ j:jr, was once undertaken on Fasht Jarim - vide 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. telegram
, 3 /eNo.180 dated the 16th October, 1941. A rig at the portu-
*' guese Fort would be unsightly but is, I think, unobjection-
, v 3o J able under the terms of the lease, and does not come within
: the scope of Article 10 of the Further Deed of Modification.
I suggest I reply to the Bahrain petroleum company that
there is no objection to further operations in this group
on the expiry of the moratorium.
(ii) As regards (y). It appears that the
ownership of the ifasht* has not been finally decided and
Residency’s views appear to rest with Sir Geoffrey
^ / /; Prior’s despatch No.c/466 dated the 26th October, 1941, in
^ the last paragraph of which ha said that he thought the
dividing line should run mid-way between the two main
„ j , s islands up to the latitude of Hawar. It will be seen from
this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. letter No.C/599-1.a/29 dated the 20th July,
1940, that BAPCO have actually drilled on Jabal, but it
appears for water and not for oil, and that they employed
a contractor rather than undertaking operations themselves.
I It will be seen that potable water was found which cannot
I but be of interest to petroleum concessions Limited. I can
| trace no record of BAPCO’s having been permitted to drill on
area (y) and until a final decision regarding ownership is
reached I think that BAPCO should not be allowed to commence
operations. The value of the ’fasht’ to p.c.L. would be of
interest but not necessarily bearing on rights of ownership.
(iii) As regards (z). The propriety of the
decision regarding the ownership of Hawar was raised by Sir
Geoffrey prior and the Government of India’s view was that
the year 1941 was inopportune for attempting to re-adjudicate
ivo'w Ui-W-v - vide enclosure to Government of India, External Affairs
*^'Ai - XK ' ^ Department letter No. D.5262-N/41 dated the 19th of November,
1941. Later correspondence rests with your endorsement
^ No.783-8 dated the 13th of October, 1944, and I do not know
, , . ; what answer was conveyed to Mr. Wheatley. I presume that
.. the question of ownership is not to be re-raised, in which
/case.........