'File 42/1 Adviser to the Government of Bahrain'

Content

The file contains correspondence between British officials in Bushire, Bahrain and India, and Charles Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain. The early correspondence relates to setting up suitable arrangements to fill Belgrave’s role in Bahrain while he took six months leave in the summer of 1934.

The rest of the file is predominantly concerned with general discussions regarding the alteration of Belgrave’s terms of service, covering his pay and leave, as well as specific arrangements for his leave in India in the early 1940s.

In the final folios of the file, the correspondence discusses increasing opposition to Belgrave within Bahrain in the late 1940s. Of particular interest are folios 124-126, these being an anonymous letter from ‘the people of Bahrain’ to the Minister of Colonies in London, expressing their discontent with Belgrave’s position of power. Folio 137 is an English translation of an article that appeared in Arab World magazine, condemning Belgrave. The Arabic original is contained on Folio 150.

The file also contains a limited amount of correspondence (in Arabic and English) between the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain and Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah regarding Belgrave's contract and pay.

Extent and format

1 file (159 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 159; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-156; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/899

Former external reference(s)

Confidential Files: 42/1 File no: 5/20

History of this record

Date(s)

11 Jan 1933-19 Mar 1949 (CE, Gregorian)

People & organisations

Adviser to the Government of Bahrain

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Cite this record in your research

'File 42/1 Adviser to the Government of Bahrain', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/899, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x00016a> [accessed 23 April 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x00016a

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