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‘File 29/21 vol ii FOOD SUPPLIES RICE’ [‎14r] (27/648)

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The record is made up of 1 file (322 folios). It was created in 30 May 1945-30 May 1948. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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C
11/tu*)
Copy
i )
JiRuiiiMT
Wo. 1165-50SF.
Office of the Adviser to
the Government,
Bahrain, June 14, 1945.
H.B.M’s 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. ,
Bahrain.
Memorandum: -
Ml ,
^ Reference your memorandum No. 2S77-2d/^l dated 10th
June J-d45, regarding the reduction of wheat quota ggainst
importo ol rice. The rice which has entered "Bahrain is rice
Vviiicn was smuggled out of Persia and bought by local merchants,
in most cases it was brought in dhows as a speculation and sold
J Wannuaas if the price was good. There are no shipping do
cuments for this rice and none has been boght by the Bahrain
Goveinment nor is its distribution or price controlred. It is
not paxt of the ration and is owned mdstly by foreign merchants
who bought it with a view to selling later at a profit when
rice becomes scarce.
nice is to be regarded by the U.h.d.C. as. part
ol oui cereal quota then it must be acquired by the Government
a^d di^tiibuted as a ration, in which case the equivalent quan-
trty of wheat can be reduced from our wheat quota, but the ac-
quioition of fice from private owners who have already done some
local, buying and selling presents difficulties. I fear however
tnat n the Government takes this action it will Kill the hen
thac rays tiie golden egg. The Government allows profit to
importers of such staple food as rice and this will not be suf-
licient inducement for Nakhudas to bring rice to Bahrain and
uiey Cud seil it more prolitabiy elsewhere, Katif has already
bought more of this rice than Banrain. ' •
.. 3;. The Bahrain Government is negociating to buy rice direct
|Tf this rice materiaiizes it wi-ii be issued as a ration and the
!equivalent of wheat can be reduced.
4. I do not. think the present cereal ration can be further
reduced it is now BO lbs. per head per month including 5 lbs.
oi bailey which in most cases the people cannot use. It is
tde : f orm flour, half of the. population do not
eat bread and our milling capacity is already strained to the
utmost. The two oia mills wnich we commandeered have collapsed
and only the two new ones are working, but a third new mill has
been ordered from India.
5. If the Bahrain Government commandeers all rice in private
nanuo cuid uiotrib&ties it as a ration then the equivalent quantity
oi wheat can be deducted irom our quota but if this quantity is
deducted and^the privately owned rice is not commandeered then
tne public will be worse oil than they are nov ? and only a small
gx oup of merchant o win proiit. i am now taking steps to en
deavour to purchase new shipments of rice that are brought here
ioi Scale ana any rice which is obtained w T ill be accumulated for
use as a ration. •
bd/- U.BniGdiiVM.
Aaviser to the Government.

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Content

The file contains correspondence, mainly telegrams, about British efforts to obtain supplies of rice for local consumption in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. shaikhdoms, particularly Bahrain, Dubai and the other Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. shaikhdoms, also Qatar, at the end of the Second World War (1939-1945). Rice and wheat continued to be in acute short supply in India and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. countries and subject to Government of India quota arrangements and other export and import controls. British and Bahrain Government officials discuss mainly the public procurement of rice supplies from Persia (Iran), India, Egypt and elsewhere. They also discuss extensively the implementation of regular reductions to Government of India monthly wheat and barley quota imports for Bahrain and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , equivalent to the total quantity of their rice imports, including private importations made by merchants and others, such as the Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited (BAPCO), as food rations for its employees.

The main correspondents are 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. , Bahrain; the Political Officer for the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. 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, both Sharjah; 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire; the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain and the Director of Customs and Port Officer, Bahrain; the officials and representatives of the Middle East Supply Centre (later the British Supply Mission, Middle East) in Baghdad, Cairo and Tehran. A large proportion of their correspondence consists of regular reports to each other about the quantity and price of rice and wheat imports, existing stock levels, new shipments and the names of the exporters and importers involved. This information is discussed in relation to planning future cereal requirements and the purchase of new supplies, as well as for regulating the landing, onward distribution and pricing of these rationed food commodities at Bahrain and also the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ports of Dubai and Sharjah.

Extent and format
1 file (322 folios)
Arrangement

Files papers are arranged more or less chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present between ff 2-200; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Pagination: the index section (ff 286-323) has been paginated using pencil; these numbers are located in the top outermost corners of each page.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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‘File 29/21 vol ii FOOD SUPPLIES RICE’ [‎14r] (27/648), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/778, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026542497.0x00001c> [accessed 12 May 2024]

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