Ext 3508/42 'Report by Mr Bowlby, Petroleum Department representative, on his visit to Abadan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Basra' [‎3r] (5/14)

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SECR3T.
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ABADAN .
Mr. Gass advised that he would like to discuss with me
hefore I went to Bahrein the Abadan food problem and -I accordingly
left Baghdad by A.I.O.C. plane on June 5th.
Discussions followed with .General Lindsell, L.G.A.
designate, and the A.I.O.C. - The General was not unfavourably
disposed to the proposal that Abadan should be put on the Tenth
Army ration strength and draw other goods and drink from N.A.A.P.I. -
The G.O.C. Tenth Army had already declined co meet the A.I.O.C.
request for emergent supplies. General Lane who was due to visio
Cairo on June 9th was made au fait with the position.
I left Basra at dawn on June 8th and arrived at:-
BAHRBIN two and a half hours later.
I was met by Mr. Anderson, acting G.M. of 3.A.P.C.O. , who
kindly put me up in his bungalow in the air-conditioned camp at
Awali.
I visited 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. . He told me that Deience
Regulation No.2, o therwise known as the Industrial Conscription_
Act. , had recently been put into force and the Bntisn subjects and
British Protected persons could now be held to their posos. —
American subjects would be controlled by Col. Johnson, the American
Representative in India, through the P.A. The P.A. remarked that
the Regulation had been accepted calmly, though he had been anxious
about the attitude which the Canadians might adopt.
Supplies of foodstuffs particularly rice and flour is
causing grave concern to the P.A. and aiieco tne Indian employees
of B.A.PX.O. and C.A.S.O.C. wlio buy supplies in the Town. - Most
of Bahrein’s food is imported from India and export control^
had failed owing to the abuses to which it gave rise. It is now
intended to allot quotas, and the P.A. hoped that aided by a new
subsidy in kind to Saudi Arabia, into which he seemed prepared to
dip in dire emergency, the food problem might improve.
Later I discussed with the P.A. the question of^
authority for a British Army officer to plan the demolition ox Ras
Tanura Refinery and other C.A.S.O.C. plant in neutral Saudi Araoia.
C.A.S.O.C. had represented that before assistance was givaito such
an officer the American Minister in Cairo and the British Minister
in Jeddah should be acquainted and the necessary authority given oo
the Companv to assist the officer in his investigations.
The C.A.S.O.C. officials are anxious not to jeopardise
their concessions during or after the War; tneir relations with
King Ibn Saud are at present most cordial and the King is a very
friendly neutral. . . ^
The P.A.Bahrein controlled the movement of all persons
from Bahrein to Arabia and officers are required to go dressed as
civilians.
A telegram was sent to Mr. lunkley at Cairo.
I visited Mr. Packer of Petroleum Concessions Ltd.
Two wells have found oil at Qatar, the third has recently
drilled into salt water, and the fourth is expected to spud in in
about two months time. There are twelve to fifteen Europeans at
^ * tiajor Boaden had investigated denial measures j.or tne
wells, and these had been agreed with the Company.
t think that the Petroleum Department should again
consider the utility of further drilling at Qatar at the present
k time. A-hnnt/