IOR/L/PS/10/994

The volume is comprised of two parts (IOR/L/PS/10/994/1 and IOR/L/PS/10/994/2) and contains telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, printed reports and notes relating to the development of oil concessions in Qatar and Oman.

IOR/L/PS/10/994/1 consists of memoranda, letters, and correspondence concerning the development of an oil concession for Qatar. Correspondence discusses the form of wording to be used in responding to a request from the Eastern and General Syndicate Limited to contact the Shaikh of Qatar [Shaikh Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani] concerning oil exploitation in his territory. Also discussed are the terms of the British agreement with the Shaikh of Qatar to defend against attack from land and relations between the Shaikh of Qatar and Ibn Saud. IOR/L/PS/10/994/2 consists of memoranda, letters, and correspondence concerning the development of an oil concession for Muscat. Topics discussed include negotiations with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company for an oil concession in Muscat. Also included (ff 268-279) is a copy of the agreement between the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Saiyid Taimur bin Faisal], and the D'Arcy Exploration Company Limited on an oil concession for Muscat.

The principal correspondents are: the Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London; the India Office, (John Gilbert Laithwaite); the Admiralty; an official of the Petroleum Department, Mines Department (F C Starling); and the Secretary of the Eastern and General Syndicate Limited (H T Adams).

Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.