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'File 8/8 II Annual Administration Report of The Bahrain Agency' [‎306r] (611/720)

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The record is made up of 1 file (358 folios). It was created in 16 Jan 1941-15 Feb 1944. It was written in English. 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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In spite of increasing difficulties, there was at no tine an
actual snortage of essential f foodstuffs during the year in Bahrain,
Prices, being controlled, although increasing towards the end of
the year, are still considerably less than in neighbouring countries.
Stocks of Rice, although carefully rationed, and augumented by
200 tons purchased through the good offices of 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. ,
from Dubai, were exhausted by the end of Shawal (October) and prospects
of obtaining further supplies are extremely poor for the present.
At the beginning of the year each adult obtained a monthly ration
of 20 lbs cereals, which included 8 lbs of rice, this quantity, ie,
of rice, was reduced in March to 4 lbs and again in September to 2 lbs
per head. It was however possible whenever the quantity of rice was
reduced, to increase the quantity of wheat, the only substitute the
inhabitants have at all taken to, and the monthly ration of 20 lbs
cereals was maintained throughout the year.
At this stage it is interesting to compare the scale of rations
for Kahurrum (January>end Dhul HaJ (December),
Mahurrum (January). Dhul HaJ (December).
Total:
8 lbs Rice,
6 lbs Flour,
4 lbs Flour,
4 lbs Barley,
Wheat.
"Hbf.
The sugar ration of 4 lbs per month per adult, was reduced in
April to 2 lbs and although subsequently an adequate monthly quota
was allocated by the Government of India, it was only possible to
increase the ration by £ a lb•
The reason for this is that all surplus sugar is required for
sale for export to Persian Nacodas who import into Bahrein such
essentials as, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Ghee, Charcoal, Firewood,
Potatoes, Fresh Fruits etc.
It has been found that the more sugar these traders can obtain,
the more plentiful are their importa. In view of this and as a result
of representations to the Government of India, through the Political
Authorities, an extra quota of 25 tons per month has been sanctioned
for this.purpose. This is most important, Bahrain being entirely
dependant on her neighbours for live stoci •
and Coffee were, on the 1st of Rabia al Thany c/w the ?th
Aprils rationed in the proporations of two and four ounces respectively.
With the obtaining of a monthly quota from India of 20 tons Tea
and 32 tons Coffee,, coupled with the importation of 500 cases Tea from
Dubai and large consignments of Coffee from Aden, the rationing of these
commodities was withdrawn on the 1st Shaban c/w the 3rd of August,
The Government were again the sole* importers of such essentials
flour, barley, wheat and sugar, whilst for tea, coffee, and ghee,
quotas were divided amongst the leadihg prewar importers of these
commodities,
Municipalities of Manama and Maharaq co-operated well with
the Government in the issuing of monthly ration cards.

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Content

The file contains correspondence relating to the collation and submission of the annual Administration Report of the Bahrain Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Office, as well as the reports themselves.

Present within the file are the reports for the years 1940-43. Each Bahrain Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. report contains a prose statement and sometimes statistics on all or most of the following subjects: Officers; Ruler of Bahrain and the Al Khalifa Family; Bahrain Police; Local Affairs; Bahrain Petroleum Company; Agriculture; Municipalities; Customs; Public Works; Electric Department; Pearling Industry; Boatbuilding and Shipping; British Interests; Post Office; Medical; Judicial; Visits of British Notables; Visits of Foreign Notables; Visits of Arab Notables; Qatar; Petroleum Concessions Limited; Foreign Interests; Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Fighter Fund; Accidents Within Port Limits; Education; Royal Air Force Levies; Economic; and Cable And Wireless Ltd. Each subject comes under its own sub-heading. Each report is signed by the officiating 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 the time of submission to 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. at Bushire.

Each report on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. contains information on all or most of the following subjects: Personnel; Trucial Shaikhs; British Interests; Tours; Aviation; Royal Navy; Shipping; Medical; Raids and Disturbances; Oil; The [Second World] War; Red Oxide; Pearling; Fighter Fund; Local Affairs; Royal Air Force Levies; Economics; Security; Population.

Preceding each report is correspondence between 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. and the institutions and offices that provided reports and statistics for the final Administration Report. These include: Charles Belgrave, Advisor to the Government of Bahrain; the Director of Customs and Port Officer; the Postmaster or sub-Postmaster of the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department; doctors and other employees of the American Mission Hospitals (men's and women's), the Victoria Memorial Hospital, and the Medical Department of the Bahrain Government; representatives of Bahrain Petroleum Company and Petroleum Concessions Ltd; the Political Officer at Sharjah; and representatives of The Eastern Bank and Cable and Wireless Ltd.

At the back of the file (folios 355-59) are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (358 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the 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. A previous foliation, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 8/8 II Annual Administration Report of The Bahrain Agency' [‎306r] (611/720), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/299, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025546704.0x00000c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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