ملف رقم ١٤٢١ لسنة ١٩٠٨، جزء ٣، "بلاد فارس: النفط؛ مفاوضات بين شيخ المحمرة وشركة النفط الأنجلو-فارسية" [و‎‎٣‎٣‎٦] (٣٣٨/٢٣٧)

-[This Dogimifint ia the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Govenmient.j
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PERSIA.
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[July 21.]
^CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 3.
[26998]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
gj r Foreign Office, July 21, 1909.
WITH reference to your letter of the 1 st instant, relative to the proposed agree
ment between your company and the Sheikh of Mohammerah, l am directed by
Secretary Sir Edward Grey to inform you that he has received a telegram from His
Majesty’s consul-general at Bushire reporting that, after negotiations which have lasted
several days, a settlement has been reached on terms which Major Cox agrees with
your agent in considering reasonably satisfactory. All essential conditions have been
maintained, though certain alterations have been made in-the less important details.
As regards the reversion of the buildings, &c., constructed on the land leased,
Major Cox states that he was obliged to give to the sheikh the separate confidential
assurance suggested by His Majesty’s Minister at lehran, that if, when the time comes,
the Persian Government claim these buildings, His Majesty’s Government will assist
the sheikh to reach a reasonable settlement.
The sheikh has undertaken to get the agreement endorsed by the tribal elders
within the next few days, and it is hoped that by that time the sum of 16,050?. will be
ready at Mohammerah. The sheikh accepts the conditions which His Majesty’s
Government have attached to the loan, and has asked that the amount may be paid
in gold instead of by draft on a bank.
The sheikh has expressed the fear that by executing this agreement with a foreign
company he may incur the hostility of the ulema and Nationalist leaders. He therefore
begs that overt operations at Mohammerah may be delayed, and secrecy maintained as
to the execution and details of the agreement until the present crisis at Tehran is at
an »
I am to suggest to you the advisability of complying with the request of the
sheikh on this point.
I am, &c.
LOUIS MALLET.
[2339 3]