'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Reports' [‎165r] (329/432)

of 1942, in which mention was made of the slow rate of recruit
ment of levies at Sharjah. On his recent visit to Sharjah,
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. discussed this question with the Shaikh,
as well as with Captain Lyle (Officer Commanding Levies, Dubai
and Sharjah) and the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent, Sharjah. The Shaikh of
Sharjah has no objection to levies for the Sharjah Companies
being recruited from outside - whether from Dubai or elsewhere #
The difficulty at both Sharjah and Dubai is not so much that of
initial recruitment, as that recruits, after serving for a month,
then depart for their homes with a month’s pay in their pockets.
The Shaikhs are not unhelpful, but their more active backing
is necessary before such difficulties can be removed. On his
return to Bahrain 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. discussed the question
with Lieut.-Colonel Hall, who left Bahrain by B.O.A.C. plane
on August llth for a tour down the coast.
161, Slave Traffic .
(i) Reference para 119 of Intelligence Summary No.12 of
1942, in which mention was made of the recrudescence of the
slave trade on the Persian Coast. A recent report from a
Nakhuda of Dubai tells of how, after leaving Kalat on the
Persian coast, he encountered a jolly boat with 50 armed pirates
who opened fire on him. After hearing from these pirates of
the existence of four other boats in the vicinity with a
similar complement of men and arms, the Nakhuda returned to
Dubai with the maximum despatch. He arrived there on August 1st.
(ii) Reference para 157 of Intelligence Summary No,14 of
1942, which told of the peregrinations of Mirza bin Barkat.
This gentleman is reported to have returned to Kalba
from Muscat territory towards the end of July, and to have
stayed at a place called As Saf, some 8 miles south of Kalba,
while his boat was being mended at Khaur Kalba. He was last
seen on or about the 27th of July sheltering in his boat at an
islet just outside Khor Fakkan and on receiving a warning from
the local inhabitants, is then said to have left for an unknown
destination. His family is believed to be still in Muscat
territory at Fazh with the Riyasah tribe.
162. The Oil Companies .
(i) Reference para 136(i) of Intelligence Summary No.13
of 1942, in which the decrease in the activities of the Bahrain
Petroleum Company and the California Arabian Standard Oil Com
pany was referred to. On the 1st of August the output of the
Bahrain Refinery was increased to 25,000 barrels of crude a day,
and was further increased on the 15th August to 33,500 barrels.
Of this, 15,000 barrels will continue to be produced from the
Bahrain Petroleum Company* s Field, the balance being imported
from Saudi Arabia. In consequence of this increase of work at
the Refinery, practically all the personnel who had been
rendered surplus (vide para 124(ii; of Intelligence Summary
No.12 of 1942) have now been re-engaged. Most of them had in
the meantime been employed on sheathing and construction work.
(ii) On August 14th at 12.20 p.m. a U.S. Army Transport
plane landed at the Bahrain airfield, having brought from Basra
six American civilians attached to the American Military Mission
at Cairo. They had come to inspect certain equipment, rolling
stock, cranes, etc. of the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company, with a view to buying it for the American Army. They
had sent no previous intimation-of their coming and were
apparently unaware that this equipment was not at Bahrain or
that there might be any difficulty over their seeing it. As
they had to leave the following day and ordinary methods of
communication with Dhahran would have involved considerable
delay, (the Company’s daily launch having already left Bahrain),
the Company were authorised to arrange by radio telephone for
three members of the party to visit Dhahran that afternoon;
/ they