TALE OF A CITY 42 Oil in Sharjah On 24 September 1935, E. H. O. Elkington, General Manager of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited, sent a letter to Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, Ruler of Sharjah, saying that his company was requesting the Sheikh’s approval to grant the company the right to undertake geological explorations in Sharjah in return for 750 Rupees a month effective from the date of the letter.8 Sheikh Sultan responded, agreeing to the request to send geologists to excavate for oil in Sharjah. 9 On 26 September 1935, Sheikh Sultan sent a letter to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited giving his approval to their offer, provided that they commit to make “payment to him of 750 Rupees a month in return for the surveying work for the period of two years. Additionally, the company shall cover all the wages for the security men, workers, camel drivers and their camels, etc. as well as all personnel chosen by us.”10 Following this agreement, a similar one was drawn between the AngloPersian Oil Company Limited, the Sheikh of Ras al-Khaimah and the Sheikh of Dubai. The British Government approved the agreement between the Sheikhs of Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Dubai and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited, but in accordance with terms stipulated by the British Government itself. Lieutenant Colonel Fowele, Political Resident in the Gulf, Bushire, sent a letter dated 31 December 1935 to the General Manager of the Anglo-IranianOil Company Ltd., Abadan, informing himof the British Government’s approval of the agreement subject to the acceptance of the following conditions: “ a. That any geologist or employee who visits any of the Trucial 8 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/3835, P.Z.8661/1935. 9 Ibid. 10 Ibid.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy