'File 36/2 (1 A/20) Foreign Consular Activities in Bahrain' [‎41v] (82/442)

copy
the Compliments of the “Onder decretaiy of
State- for Foreign ^O'fairs, 20th
Marche 1943* -
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m. 1468/43.
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* t v.fe have given ver^r oesrbfuj- and gyta^at lie tic cons i dart 1 on
to your letter of the 8th February, in which you asked whether
the establishment of a United States Consulate at Bahrein would
he agreeable to the British authorities, m of course do not
question the view that American interests in Bahrein may now
be such as ’would justify the presence of someone capable of
carrying out Consular functions, and are consequently reluctant
to make difficulties about the State Department*£ desire to
meet these practical requirements. At the sarae time, the
circunu tfuices in Bahrein are exceptional and before the
United States Government decide fomally to approach us, we
shall be glad if you will represent the following considerations
to the state Department* '' ' : ^
Bahrein, like a number of other Arab Sheikhdoms in the
Persian Oulf, is a British-protected State in special treaty
relations with His Majesty's Government. In these Arab states
the local ,a-ab ruler exercises jurisdiction oyer ids ovm
subjects, and in some cases over other Arabs in Ids territory,
but all other jurisell etion is exercised by His ‘Majesty*a
Government through the British 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. and. uue
British 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. . fhe local Arab ruler, moreover,
does not enter into relations with any foreign Power, We
have hitherto mot permitted any foreign Consuls or other
Government Agents to reside -in these /sxab States, and for many
reasons we should not wish now to alter the attitude which we
have consistently maintained on tide point. For instance, it
is evident that, once a Consul irom one Power was admitted,
claims by other Powers on most-favoured-nation grounds or
otherwise would almost inevitably follow* It would be vexy
difficult thereafter to refuse such requests from other
Powers, in particular neighbouring .rab States, whose
representatives could not be relied upon not to indulge jJH
activities of a nature that idght be prejudicial to the
interests/
Mr. H* Freeman Hatthe^vs,
Chtirge d* Affaires,
United States Babassy.