'File 19/248 II (C 83) Education at Bahrain' [‎31r] (72/464)

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D.O.NO.C/32
Office of the Political nesii ent
in the Per&ian Gulf,
Camp) hAiihk ajjj •
Dated the 22nd February 1^41.
Dear Dundas,
I understand from you that the British Council are consider
ing the expansion of their work in Bahrain. As you know, we are
greatly concerned with the strategic advantages of a quiet
pied -a- terre here, and anything that disturbed the political
atmosphere would be contrary to our interests. V*e tnereiore hav^
to consider any proposals from the political as well as the
educational point of view.
2. As I understand it, the policy of the council is to encourage
the inhabitants of the Middle Last to look to Britain tor their
cultural contacts, and that their immediate object in Bahrain is
to keep students at home where subversive propaganda is lees
likely to reach them, fcith both of these aims we are in full
agreement, but there is an underlying danger which we should do
well to avoid.
3. It appears to be a universal law in the Last that the un
employed student is the normal focus for political agitation,
and there have already been signs of this in Bahrain and Kuwait.
%e should therefore consider closely the probable sourceb ol
employment open to these students and make our plans accordingly.
I am doubtful if the present openings are likely to increase
substantially, and we should underestimate rather than over
estimate our figures. If a survey shows that a majority of the
vacancies are of a technical nature we should cater for this
in the education provided.
O
^•F.Dundas, Esquire,
British Council Representative
in the Near East,
BAHKAlii.
Copy sent to P.A.Bahrain under
D.O.P.L.^o.C/38 of 22.2.41.
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