مجموعة ١٦٤/٣٠ "النفط: امتيازات النفط في الساحل المتصالح: - كلباء." [و‎‎٢‎٨] (٢٤٤/٥٧)

<rp-—^ .
P.Z. 4843/39 .
Minute Paper
political Department
T Tnder Secretary of State,
Please see tb.e minutes on P.Z.32S5 and 421 ^ dealing
with the Kalb a pnd Abu Dhabi Concessions. Mr.Longrigg
has now replied to our letters and states that his
Company is prepared to give an assurance, by exchange of
letter, that before any repatriations of foreign personnel
take place they would consult the Political Agent. They
assume that this would be confidential and without the
cognisance of the -Sheikh. This seems satisfactory and I
see no reason why the Sheikh should be brought into the
matter, particularly in view of the fact that the Company
say that there will be a definite understanding with tneir
foreign employees that if they are found unsatisfa ct ory
they will be liable to repatriation. As regards natural
gas, the omission was apparently only due to a desire to
simplify the concession pnd the Company are ready to give
a.n assurance that they will not produce or sexl natural
gas otherwise than upon the payment of royalty to the
Sheikh. This seems quite adequate and we need not pursue
our original suggestion of an exchange of letters with
the Sheikh on this point. As regards the two Political
Agreements, Mr.Longrigg raises the same points on each.
The first seems quite unobjectionable. As to the second
point, the omission of the phrase was due I think to a
desire to avoid possible difficulties over the
interpretation of the word ’’unreasonable’ 1 and I suggest
that we should stick to our proposal. As to the third
point, the Company have evidently overlooked the fact that
the Sheikhs are not to be cognisant of the Political
Agreements in this case and consequently the Article in
question is not applicable. I submit drafts to the
interested departments and on receipt of their replies
it/
(6610) Wt.25956/235 10,000 9/38 A.& E.W.Ltd. Gp.685
(8650) Wt.40880/22 10,000 1/39