'File No. 17/9 MAILS BETWEEN BAHRAIN & IRAN'

IOR/R/15/2/562

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The record is made up of 1 file (203 folios). It was created in 21 Sep 1937-8 May 1943. It was written in English and Persian. The original is part of the 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. .

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Content

The file comprises correspondence between the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Charles Geoffrey Prior), 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. at Bahrain (Reginald George Evelin Alban, Edward Birkbeck Wakefield), the Sub-Postmaster at Bahrain, Secretary to the External Affairs Department of the Government of India (William Rupert Hay, Hugh Weightman), His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran (Sir Reader Bullard), and the Iranian Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Iranian Government’s decision in 1939 to refuse to accept mail and telegrams sent from Bahrain as international mail owing to their claims to Bahrain as part of Iran and that all mail should be sent as Iranian internal mail.

The correspondence discusses the various forms used to send mail on from Bahrain to Iranian ports; various procedures tested between 1939 and 1942 in an attempt to find a process which the post offices at Iranian ports would accept; and the alternative routes for mail and telegrams via Basra and Muscat owing to the ongoing difficulties. Also included are the negotiations with the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the eventual resolution of the situation in 1942.

Also mentioned in the file is the temporary problem in April and May 1941 of the newly established Iraqi Censorship Office in Basra opening all mail being sent through there and the need to ensure confidential mail was not opened by them.

A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 194-204. These file notes relate only to the correspondence from folio 62 onwards, the correspondence on folios 2-16, and possibly also folios 17-61 appear to have been placed in the file at a later date after the file notes were compiled.

Extent and format
1 file (203 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Circled serial numbers (red for received correspondence; blue/black for issued correspondence) refer to entries in the notes at 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 back cover with 205; 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 incomplete foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-16 and a mixed foliation/pagination sequence between ff 17-193; these numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled. Pagination: the file notes at the back (ff 17-193) have been paginated using pencil.

Written in
English and Persian in Latin and Arabic script
Type
Archival file

Archive information for this record

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/15/2/562
Former external reference(s)
Confidential Series: 17/9

History of this record

Date(s)
21 Sep 1937-8 May 1943 (CE, Gregorian)

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'File No. 17/9 MAILS BETWEEN BAHRAIN & IRAN', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/562, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x0003a1> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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