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File 537/1921 Part 1 'Persia: Oil - Defence of A.P. Oil Co's fields etc' [98r] (191/324)
The record is made up of 1 item (161 folios). It was created in 28 Oct 1920-21 Nov 1924. 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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
1st Hsport.
ParagrapM. Suggestions for the raising, equipping and training of
a Defence force from among the employees of the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company.
This proposal has "been considered a number of times and has
invariably been rejected. The only men fit to bear arms are the
British, Canadian and American employees and a force would of neces
sity have to be entirely constituted of volunteers. The arming of
a heteregonous admixture of Indians, Lurs, Persians, Arabs,
Armenians and Assyrians would be a source of danger rather than a
means of protection. Should trouble arise the interests of the
Company would best be served by the while employees remaining at
their posts as long as possible, thereby instilling confidence
amongst the native element, negotiations would, it is considered,
be far more efficacious than endeavouring to meet such trouble by
a demonstration of force. The present high prestige of the Company
amongst the tribes is not based on force, and any exibition of such /
unless immediately and entirely successful, would probably lower
and eliminate to this valuable asset, apart from being provocative.
The firing of a single shot at an inopportune moment, as might
easily occur under a volunteer organisation during a state of ten
sion, might result in disaster. This danger is such that the higher
officials of the Fields and elsewhere, whose intimate knowledge of
the local tribesmen extends over a period of many years, consider
that no military firearms should be held at tne jielas. u—
training of such a force, even if conditions of work permitted ^nd
opportunity offered, could not be carried: without exaggerated report-
of military preparations reaching the ears of tne Persian aUtaOi i
ties at Tehran and would undoubtedly result in diplomatic complica
tions and the arousing of grave suspicions as to annexation of
Persian territory by force. Valuable assistance in connection with
pioneer work, supplies and transport, etc., could nowei/u- o- ..-iOj.
ded by the Company’s employees to any military force that under
certain circumstances might be sent to the Oiliiel'..-. or
Any
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The item contains correspondence and other papers regarding the protection of oilfields in Arabistan, Persia [the southern part of Khuzestan Province, Iran] run by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). Topics discussed include:
- The withdrawal of a British military unit from Ahwaz [Ahvaz] following the end of the First World War
- The reliance for protection of the oilfields on continued friendly relations with the Sheikh [Shaikh] of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyari] people, and considerations that these relations could be adversely influenced by the Soviet Union or by any attempt by the Government of Persia to assert more direct control over the area
- Potential creation of a ‘volunteer defence force’ made up of APOC employees, and discussions over how the Government of Persia would react to such a force
- Possible availability of British troops in Iraq for protection of the oilfields in an emergency, and discussion of the technicalities of requesting and providing such assistance.
The primary correspondents are: 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. ; HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. to Persia; the Foreign Office; the 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. ; the Colonial Office; the Air Ministry; the Committee of Imperial Defence; the Government of India; Air Headquarters, Iraq; the British Consul, Ahwaz; the British Consul, Baghdad; and APOC Ltd.
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- 1 item (161 folios)
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 537/1921 Part 1 'Persia: Oil - Defence of A.P. Oil Co's fields etc' [98r] (191/324), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/965/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100110704878.0x000003> [accessed 13 March 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/965/1
- Title
- File 537/1921 Part 1 'Persia: Oil - Defence of A.P. Oil Co's fields etc'
- Pages
- 4r:4v, 5ar:5av, 5r:19v, 20v:33v, 34v:88v, 91v:164v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence