[Enclosure 1]
The American Ambassador (Harvey) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Curzon)
No. 189
The American Ambassador presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and has the honour to refer
to conversations held in March and April, 1920, between Sir John
Tilley, of the Foreign Office, and Mr. Wright, Counselor of this
Embassy; to a conversation between Sir John Tilley, Mr. L. I.
Thomas, of the Standard Oil Company of New York, and Mr. Wright on
March 29, 1920; and to a conference at the Colonial Office on the
9th instant, kindly arranged by Mr. Lindsay of the Foreign Office,
at which were present Mr. Shuckburgh and Major Young of that
office,44
Mr. Thomas and Mr. Wright; all relative to the desire of the
Standard Oil Company of New York that representatives of that
Company now in Jerusalem be permitted to continue geological
examinations of the areas covered by their rights or concessions, in
Palestine, which examinations were commenced by the Company prior to
the outbreak of the war in 1914.
In accordance with telegraphic instructions just received from his
Government, Mr. Harvey now has the honour to reiterate this request,
and in so doing desires to state that it is the opinion of his
Government that the granting at this time of such permission could
not be construed as inconsistent with the principles which have been
accepted by the British Government regarding the development of the
economic resources of mandated regions. Furthermore, the exploration
and examination desired could apparently in no way compromise the
future authorities of the countries concerned, since it is to be
clearly understood that the investigations which it is desired to
undertake would not be conducted with a view to acquiring new claims
or to strengthening old ones.
In this connection Mr. Harvey is happy to improve this opportunity to
confirm the statement made by Mr. Thomas and Mr. Wright during the
aforementioned conversation, to the effect that there would be no
objection on the part of the Government of the United States if
privileges with respect to travel or to such geological examination
in Palestine, similar to those accorded to nationals of the United
States, should also be accorded to nationals of other countries.
Accordingly, Mr. Thomas, who is in London for a short time only but
who will be compelled to leave within a few days on account of
urgent business, holds himself in entire readiness to cooperate with
the authorities of His Majesty’s Government and with the Embassy to
such ends, and adds to the request of the Department of State his
earnest hope that an early decision may be reached by His Majesty’s
[Page 99]
Government, in view of
the fact that the rainy season in Palestine commences about December
1st, and that delay which might compel postponement of operations
until next spring would increase the inconvenience and expense
already incurred by the Company.
London, September 15,
1921.
[Enclosure 2]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Curzon) to the American
Ambassador (Harvey)
[London,] 26 October,
1921.
No. E. 11576/264/88
Your Excellency: In your note No. 189 of
the 15th. ultimo, you enquired whether the representatives of the
Standard Oil Company in Jerusalem might be permitted to continue the
geological examination, already begun before the war, of certain
areas covered by rights or concessions in Palestine acquired by that
Company.
- 2.
- In reply I have the honour to state that informal permission
will be accorded to the representatives of the Standard Oil
Company by the Palestine Government, to conduct researches
within the limits of the areas over which the Company is known
to claim concessionary rights with the object of discovering
whether oil in payable quantities exists in these areas, on the
strict understanding that such permission is granted without
prejudice to the question of the validity of the Standard Oil
Company’s claims, that no permission can be granted for the
exploitation of these areas until the Treaty of Peace with
Turkey enters into force and until the terms of the Mandate for
Palestine are finally settled, and on the condition that the
Company will undertake, to furnish a full and complete report of
the result of their investigations as required by the Palestine
Government and that they will comply with any instructions which
may be given by the Palestine Government.
- 3.
- I would wish to make it quite clear to Your Excellency, that
while the question of the validity of the Standard Oil Company’s
claims to the areas in Palestine remains unaffected, the fact of
their existence has been a determining factor with His Majesty’s
Government and the Palestine Government in acceding to the
request of the Company, and that no precedent is thereby
established for the treatment of any future applications of a
like nature.
- 4.
- I shall be glad to learn from you whether the Standard Oil
Company agree to undertake operations in the Palestine areas on
the terms set forth above, as well as the names of the persons
to whom the work of investigation is to be entrusted by the
Company, in order that the Palestine Government may be
informed.
I have [etc.]
(For Secretary of State)
Lancelot Oliphant
