'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summary' [‎3r] (5/108)

/
2 ,
The Bahrain Petroleum Company Lira!ted
(i) Labou r.
On the 4th of January Mr. T;r ard P. Anderson the General
Manager of the Bahrain Petroleum Company informed the,Political
Agent that he had heard disquieting rumours which indicated
that there was a possibility pf a 'strike of local labour at
the Bahrain Petroleum Company. Careful enquiries were made
but no confirmation whatsoever was obtained of,the intention
oi the local employees of the Company to indulge in such
co-ercive action. It was apparent that the transportation
arrangements for the carriage of unskilled labour to and from
their employment were unsatisfactory and the General Manager
took such action as lay within his power to remedy defects
in the system. Unfortunately the difficulty of obtaining
spare parts and replacements for damaged material- has so far
proved insuperable so that the position is not as satisfac
tory qs could be desired. The difficulties of the Company's
administration are at least in part understood by their labour
and the management have been advised by 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. to
obtain sanction to bring into operation, should it become
necessary, increases in the war allowance of the lower pay
grades. This action will probably have the effect of prevent
ing a disruption in the Company's work until April 1st when
it is anticipated the Refinery construction programme will have
advanced sufficiently to permit of the discharge of some 2,000
local employees and the return to the United States of America
of approximately 300 men from the Berchtel McCone Corporation.
The Company hope that the full programme for construction will
be completed by the 1st of June.
(ii) Drum Plant.
i
Some 600 Indian troops have recently arrived at Bahrain
for * the purpose of dealing with the shipping of 100 octane
drums at Sitrah.
Bahrain Labour Committee
~ •*
On the 11th a meeting of the Bahrain Labour Committee
under the presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. 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. was held at'which
it was confirmed that transportation would have to be provided
between Muharraq and Manamah for labour employed at the Royal
Air Force construction work on the latter^ island. It was also
agreed that efficiency pay was reasonable provided it did not
exceed an annual maximum increase in the daily rates beyond
Annas eight. Tho Committee expressed their concern with regard
to the scarcity of labour not only at the present time but
also should further construction programmes have to be under
taken later in the spring.
7. Iraqi artisans
The Bahrain Petroleum Company have recruited approximately
280 artisans from Iraq for temporary work on the Refinery con
struction. It is understood from the General Manager that the
men have proved good workmen and no trouble of any description
has been experienced. This happy state of affairs does not
appear to have existed at the Arabian American Oil company's
works at Dhahran for reports reaching 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. indi
cate that there have been a number of cases of misunderstanding
between the management of the Company and the artisans they
have recently recruited from Iraq.
8• Thefts of Royal Air Force ammunition at Muharraq
Reference paragraph No.214 of Intelligence Summary No.23
of*
i
t Judicial proceedings taken by the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. courts and the
Bahrain courts against four receivers of ammunition stolen from
'/the