Coll 30/221 'Banking facilities in Bahrein and Saudi-Arabia.'

Content

The file concerns proposals by various commercial banks for the extension of banking facilities in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The file particularly relates to Saudi Arabia, Bahrein [Bahrain], Dubai, Muscat and Oman, and Qatar. The 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. were keen to ensure that banking in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. remained in British hands: 'It is of course preferable on political grounds that we should have British banks rather than American banks where possible in Arabia' (internal memorandum, 15 August 1944).

The papers cover: interest from the Eastern Bank Limited in establishing a branch at Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, and resistance to the proposal from the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO), 1944; interest from the Imperial Bank of Iran (IBI) in opening a branch in Bahrain, and the view of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Geoffrey Prior, 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. , that the IBI were a better and stronger bank than the Eastern Bank Limited, and had a better understanding of Persian trade, 1944; a proposal by the National City Bank of New York to open a branch at Dhahran, 1944; interest from the Imperial Bank of Iran in opening a branch at Muscat, 1945-48; copy of banking agreement between Said bin Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm], Shaikh of Dubai, and the Imperial Bank of Iran, 5 January 1946; interest from the Eastern Bank Limited in opening a branch at Qatar, 1947; correspondence concerning the inclusion of the Gulf states in the sterling area, 1947; and the view of the Eastern Bank Limited that trade at Muscat was primitive, and that consideration of opening a branch there should be postponed, 1948.

In addition to 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. (later, Commonwealth Relations Office) correspondence and memoranda, the main correspondents are 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. , the Foreign Office, and representatives of the banks concerned.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 file (162 folios)

Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 162; 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; these numbers are printed, and are not circled.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.

Written in

English in Latin 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/L/PS/12/3965A

Former external reference(s)

Coll 30/221

History of this record

Date(s)

13 Aug 1944-16 Apr 1948 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Banks

People & organisations

Imperial Bank of IranEastern Bank Limited

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Coll 30/221 'Banking facilities in Bahrein and Saudi-Arabia.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3965A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000218> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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