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'File 1/A/48 III FOOD CONTROL.' [‎76r] (151/560)

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The record is made up of 1 file (278 folios). It was created in 31 Jan 1942-8 Aug 1942. 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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(.a)Lf
V~(®
No
C/591
Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
Bahrain, the 5th May 1942*
The Adviser to the Government,
Bahrain*
Memorandum*
. Please refer to paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of my memorandum
No .C/374 dated 28th March 1942 in which I referred to the
opinion expressed by His Highness that export of piecegoods from
Bahrain was undesirable as it reduced local stocks which would
be invaluable if the shipping position deteriorates later this
year* Subsequently, I understand, the export of piecegoods
from Bahrain has been to a large extent, if not completely,
stopped by the Pood Controller*
2* The veto imposed by the Food Controller has been
of great use as it has arrested the wholesale export of piece-
goods which would otherwise have occurred and has also given
us an opportunity to take further stock of the position*
3* I understand from a number of merchants whom I have
interviewed that stocks of piecegoods in Bahrain are very
considerable and that, in the case of certain categories of ’
goods, they greatly exceed the quantities required for local
consumption over a period of 6 months. I also understand
that certain categories of piecegoods e.g* coloured prints
or dyed goods, deteriorate very rapidly if kept in stock
for a period of more than two or three months*
4* I cannot see that any useful object would be served
by compelling merchants to hold stocks of goods which will
deteriorate; nor do I think it necessary to hold in Bahrain
a greater quantity of other piecegoods than is necessary to
fulfil local requirements over a period of 6 months* Replace
ments of piecegoods are still coming from India in satisfactory
/ quantities

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Content

The file concerns the effects of the implementation of controls on the import and export of food and other commodities in 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. during the Second World War (1939-45).

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 (Edward Birkbeck Wakefield); the Government of India; 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. ; 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 Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave); the Food Controller, Bahrain (Claud Cranbrook Lewis deGrenier); and the Director of Customs and Port Officer, Bahrain (also deGrenier).

The papers include: Food Controller's report for the year 1941 (folios 2-9); correspondence between Petroleum Concessions (Qatar) Limited, and 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 concerning difficulties caused by the curtailment of the company's supplies by the Food Controller, Bahrain (folios 10-29); the legal implications of hoarding, and related matters (folios 31-33); report by the Food Controller on stocks of food in Bahrain (folio 42); report on control of exports from Bahrain (folios 51-52); statistics of average monthly consumption of staple commodities in Bahrain, and minimum annual requirements of foodstuffs and textiles (folios 61-63); copy of regulation making all exports dependent on the permission of the Food Controller (folios 68-70); the support 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. , Bahrain for a petition from a group of merchants to allow the re-export of piece goods (folios 75-77); correspondence from 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 detailing commodities required for consumption on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ; correspondence concerning acute shortages of wheat and flour in Bahrain; correspondence concerning 'famine' conditions on the coast of Persia (e.g. folios 96-98); an estimate of the wartime increase in the cost of living in Bahrain (folio 107); the difficulties faced by Bahrain merchants in exporting goods to India, including an allegation that they needed to give bribes to customs officials at Karachi (folios 158-159, 163-165); a confidential memorandum critical of the Food Controller, Bahrain (folio 169); the use of Bahrein Petroleum Company (BAPCO) tankers for the transportation of foodstuffs (e.g. folios 185-186); and the effect on Bahrain of food shortages in India (folio 220).

The Arabic language content of the volume consists of a single letter (with English translation) on folio 90.

The date range gives the covering dates of the correspondence; the last addition to the file is an entry in the notes on folio 279 dated 9 August 1942.

Extent and format
1 file (278 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file, except where enclosures of an earlier date are filed after their relevant covering letter, and terminate in a set of notes (folios 249-279). Circled serial numbers in red crayon refer to entries in the notes.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 280; 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 present in parallel between ff 1-279; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 1/A/48 III FOOD CONTROL.' [‎76r] (151/560), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/171, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028495403.0x000098> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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