'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summary' [‎40r] (79/108)

4
SECRET .
No. 19 of 1945 .
157 • MOVEMENTS OF OFFICIALS.
Intelligence summary of the
Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain, for
period 1st to 15th October, 1945 .
On the 10th October 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. left by air
for Sharjah and returned on the 14th.
158. T NEFT OF AI/FiaiNITI ON.
18,000 rounds of .303 ammunition have been stolen from
the Bahrain Government store on Jida Island. This island is
used as a jail as well as an arsenal and Shaikh Khalifah, the
Superintendent of police, in his investigation of the theft
has arrested the ten policemen and seven prisoners who formed
its population. He is endeavouring to obtain evidence from
them by methods so notoriously revived by the Gestapo and the
Cheka. One source of information states that the N.C.O. in
charge of the prison connived at the theft with the aid of
t Tr o of the prisoners and subsequently sold the ammunition to
Persians who have since left Bahrain for an unknown destina
tion in Persia.
159o HOUSING SHORTAGE.
Bahrain is sharing in the world housing shortage by
reason of the influx to the Island during the war years which
was not, due to the shortage of materials, followed by an
increase in building. The.situation was temporarily met by
the enforcing of a regulation prescribing maxima in rent
increases and limiting very severely the landlord’s power
either to evict or to terminate a lease. On the whole,
landlords accepted these restrictions with a fairly good
grace during the wars but, now r that it has ended, they seem
to expect that the law of supply and demand should be allowed
to operate without check. Neither 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. - who
is responsible for the interests of the tenants most of whom
are foreigners - nor His Highness the Shaikh can wholly accept
this view. Modifications in the "Law of Rents" do, however',
appear to be necessary and a committee, with representatives
from the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and the Bahrain Government, has been apuointed
to report thereon.
160. N EW TELEPHONE SYSTEM .,
The existing telephones in Bahrain are museum pieces
equipped with small handles which need to be wound before the
sleepy Arab operator can be induced to reply. The wiring of
the system makes it possible to "listen in" to the conversation
of others. Telephoning ordinarily is, therefore, exhaustive
of time and^patience; in the hot weather it results in states
verging on insanity. All concerned are accordingly anxiously
awaiting the installation of an automatic telephone system by
Messrs. Cable & Wireless, Limited, at the request of the
Bahrain Government. Negotiations for an agreement between
the two parties arc practically complete but the commencement
of the installation is being held up by the difficulty being
experienced by Messrs. Cable & Wireless, Limited, in obtaining
land for the new buildings required at a reasonable price and'
at a suitable site. 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. has asked His Highness
the Shaikh to help the company and he has promised to do so.
161. corrigendum .
The officer referred to at paragraph 157 of Bahrain
Intelligence Summary No. 18 should have been described as
/'•temporary officer...
o o