‘File 13/7 III AVIATION. Civil Aerodromes, terms of Agreement etc.’

Content

The volume, which is a continuation of ‘File 13/7 II Civil Aerodromes and Civil Air Agreement–Bahrain’ (IOR/R/15/2/516) contains correspondence and other papers related to the extension of the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement, the ongoing development of civil aviation facilities at Bahrain, and the transfer of civil aviation operations from Imperial Airways Limited and British Airways Limited to the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), in response to the British Overseas Airways Act (of which a copy can be found at ff 204-229). The principal correspondents in the file include the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior, the Advisor to the Government in Bahrain, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, and the Station Superintendent for Imperial Airways in Bahrain, Stephen Broad.

Specific subjects covered in the volume include:

• Correspondence relating to sanitary administration in the Gulf, and in particular the lack of a quarantine officer at the aerodrome in Sharjah (a continuation of correspondence on an outbreak of smallpox in Bahrain from IOR/R/15/2/516);
• Negotiations and correspondence dealing with specific clauses in the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement, notably relating to the exemption of customs duty on petrol and oil, as well as for other equipment, including safety equipment. Final agreement on the new clauses, with their wording (ff 187-192) and a copy of the new Bahrain Civil Air Agreement (ff 267-271);
• Land surveys for a civil aircraft landing ground on Muharraq Island, with a map indicating the landing ground (f 62), and abandonment of plans for a civil aircraft landing ground, in anticipation of Imperial Airways aircraft sharing use of the RAF landing ground nearby;
• Arrangements for the rent of land (off the coast of Manama) for increased passenger facilities for the Imperial Airways flying boat aerodrome, including a map of the flying boat aerodrome features (f 124);
• Arrangements in the Gulf for the transfer of air operations from Imperial Airways to BOAC, specifically letters to the rulers of Sharjah (ff 234-235), Dubai (ff 236-237) and Kalba (ff 238-239) on the rewording of their respective Civil Air Agreements. Replies from each of the leaders are included in the file (ff 244, 245, 248).

Extent and format

1 volume (302 folios)

It is grouped into

Map showing the area and situation of the civil aircraft landing ground on Muharraq Island

2 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/2/517, f 62

Map of flying boat facilities at Manama, Bahrain

2 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/2/517, f 124

Arrangement

The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the volume (ff 275-304) mirror the chronological arrangement.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; 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 also present in parallel between ff 6-274; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

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/15/2/517

Former external reference(s)

Confidential Files: 13/7 III

History of this record

Date(s)

23 Jul 1936-22 Apr 1942 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Air services agreementsBritish Overseas Airways Act (1939)

Places

Muharraq Aerodrome

People & organisations

Imperial AirwaysAdviser to the Government of BahrainBritish Overseas Airways Corporation

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‘File 13/7 III AVIATION. Civil Aerodromes, terms of Agreement etc.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/517, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000334> [accessed 16 April 2024]

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