Coll 5/81 ‘Facilities for U.S. Air Transport Corps at Bahrein and Sharjah’ [‎55r] (109/291)

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high v. f age rates that these men v;ould expect and receive v.ould
disturb the local labour market*
7 * Fuel storage installations would he required on laharrac
Island and they proposed to carry fuel by tank lorry from 3itra
the west side of the cause-way bridge and then pump the fuel
via submarine pipe direct to the fuel storage tanks. I said I did
no’c like the idea from a security point of view and would prefer
to see the fuel brought by barge from 3itra direct to the south-
wg;uU corner of Iaharraq Island and thence by pipe—line to the
storage plant.
V
°• given to understand that tne American Air Force
detachment would be provisioned from outside and would either
arinm the -i-ocdi water or that they would erect a small distil
lation plant similar to that now in use at L'asira. They would
also arrange their own medical facilities.
major an I.ostrund asked me whether there would be an^
delay in tiieix 1 com.iencin^ opei'ations from a political stand point.
j- replied what I should make an immediate report to Sir Geoffrey
Prior the I cliaical Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and that v.hen the
J ‘^ 1 liaison Gxiicer gave the details of the areas on I.aharraq Island
which the -.oyal Air Force might desire to lease in connection with
the scheme I would make a further report. I should then await
instructions and could not foretell how long it would be before
they reached me but provided 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. and the Air I. inis try
uad approved the project I did not anticipate any protracted delay.
»hen ^ was instructed to proceed I should negotiate with the 3ahrair
Government foi the sites required as additional areas to be leased
to tne irco^ al i crce c>nd v/as improbabre that any very consider
able delay was to be anticipated.
lo. Later the same evening I spoke to the Adviser to the Bahrain
Government who agreed with my views about.the actual negotiations
for sites unless the sites required were on property not owned by
the Bahrain Government in which event some difficulty might be anti
cipated with owners.
~ also had an opportunity of a few private words with the Aii
/Liaison