HC Deb 23 April 1934 vol 288 cc1368-70
10. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British interests were consulted before the oil concession in the Bahrein Islands was permitted to be acquired by an American company; and why, in view of the special relationships which exist between His Majesty's Government and the Government of those islands, no steps were taken to obtain such concession for this country?

Sir J. SIMON

The Bahrein oil concession was originally acquired by a British syndicate, and was subsequently transferred to United States interests by them. The British syndicate who first acquired the concession have stated that before they transferred it to United States interests they endeavoured unsuccessfully to attract possible British concessionnaires.

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