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Coll 30/70 'Bahrain: Amendment of contracts of Capt Parke, Commandant of Police, & Mr Belgrave, Adviser to the Sheikh of Bahrain: leave of Mr Belgrave, etc.' [‎33r] (65/379)

The record is made up of 1 file (188 folios). It was created in 13 Mar 1930-24 Mar 1948. It was written in English. 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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Oil Gauger. The Adviser said that the 3pja^ Engineer
could spend any sum in his budget, but I jw as n ot very
clear regarding, the degree of his control over ^he other
engineers and the proposed Oil Gauger. Mr. Belgrave
seemed to take the view that the Oil Gauger’s appointment
would be completely separate, but I pointed out that it was
essentially an engineering job and that in the past the
State had had to use the State Engineer for this duty,
and that they would almost certainly have to do so again.
I gave it as my view that what the State required was an
able and highly qualified engineer who would control all
the engineering works in the State as Chief Engineer.
I remarked on the difficulty that was always experienced
in combining electrical and mechanical work with building
and/roads, but said that a single engineering department
was obviously desirable. I was not very clear what the
qualifications of the new engineer were but understood
Mr. Belgrave to say that his work would be more on the
lines of roads and buildings. I drew attention to the
fact that he had been engaged without reference to us,
a point which is being dealt with iater on in this note.
I suggested that some standardisation of the electrical
plant might be possible so that spares would be inter
changeable, and Mr. Belgrave described the existing plant
and said that the point would be borne in mind in the
future. I mentioxned that the condition of the roads
was disgraceful and that so wealthy a State could and
should improve then. Mr. Belgrave agreed with this and
Said that he hoped something would now be done. He men
tioned that new motor vehciles had been ordered and said
that they were awaiting the arrival of the consulting
engineers to conclude the water supply agreement. I drew
his attention to the agreement with their supply agents
in England, which I observed had been concluded without
reference to us, and drew attention to the serious defects
in it.
4. EDUCATION.
I pointed out the advantages of getting a man from
the British Council to run education in Bahrain and said
I would make a final attempt to get one from them. If
this failed then the Bahrain Government would have to make
their own arrangements. In any case there was little
object in anyone coming out now as the school term had not
much longer to run. The disadvantage of a large number of
boys being e ducated in Egypt was discussed and this point
is still under ^ consideration. I said'that it was essential
that the technical school must be run by BAPCO and urged
that an early opportunity be taken to include this obligation
in the Concession. Colonel Galloway said that this matter
was before the Directors of the Company and it was agreed
that they should be pressed to undertake this function.
5. CUSTOMS.
I'inquired the financial powers of the Director
and Mr. Belgrave explained that he was empowered to spend
any suma included in his budget. I inquired whether
there was any plan of reorganisation of the pier or the
possibility of having a bonded warehouse. Mr. Belgrave
replied that there was a proposal to fill in thd dock
between the existing pier and the Kanoo Building but said
that the question of having bonded warehouse had not been
considered. I drew attention to the fact that Has Tanura
was now being put on the slow mail run and said that I
feared this would divert a good deal of trade from Bahrain
which could probably be retained if a bonded warehouse
system was introduced as merchants would then be able to
/ make.. ..

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Content

The file concerns the terms of service of British officials working for the Government of Bahrain, principally Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain.

The principal correspondents are 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 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; Belgrave; and officials of the Government of India, the Foreign Office and the 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. .

The papers cover: changes to the contracts of Belgrave and Captain L S Parke, Commandant of State Police, Bahrain; discussion of Belgrave's pay, leave, and workload; proposed improvements to Belgrave's terms of employment; proposals to appoint an Assistant Adviser to the Government of Bahrain; the issue of 'nationalist agitation' against Belgrave, including an anonymous petition from the 'Bahrain Island Population' to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, calling for Belgrave's replacement as Adviser, and making complaints about his administration of Bahrain, particularly in terms of education, the courts, and the Bahrain police (folios 40-42); the Bahrain state budget, including a note of discussions at Bahrain on 16 March 1946 between 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Geoffrey Prior) and Belgrave, which covers all aspects of the administration of Bahrain, and is critical of Belgrave (folios 17-21); and discussion of Belgrave's possible retirement or dismissal.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (188 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 189; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 30/70 'Bahrain: Amendment of contracts of Capt Parke, Commandant of Police, & Mr Belgrave, Adviser to the Sheikh of Bahrain: leave of Mr Belgrave, etc.' [‎33r] (65/379), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3787, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036542140.0x000042> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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