Coll 29/2(2) 'Transfer of Bushire Residency to Bahrain: selection of site and construction of buildings' [‎21r] (43/813)

officers are not very different from those carried out hy
certain of H.L. ’s consular officers stationed in Middle Eastern
countries. 1 he major problems which arise for decision in the
1'ersian G-ulf area are political in character, and touch on the
relations of H.m.G-. with the neighbouring foreign States, viz.
Iraq, Persia and Saudi ^rabia. The Poreign Office, however,
though willing to accept eventual transfer of the functions of 1
conorcl and to absorb suitable candidates from the staff inCthe *
Poreign Service, are not in a position immediately to assume
responsibility for the administrative machinery. i
4. On the other hand, it was found that the Colonial Office ^
are in a position to accept immediate control and are qualified
to do so owing to tne circumstances that:-
(«0 they could provide administrative and other British
staff, as vacancies occurred, from the Colonial Service;
db they have already local associations v/ith Arabia by
reason of,Colonial Office administration of Aden Colony
and Protectorate, control of which was transferred to
them from the G-overnment of India in 1937;
(C) they have much experience in indirect rule involving
interference in tne internal affairs of protected States,
sucn as is, in practice, inevitable in the case of the
Sheikhdoms; and
(&; they are accustomed to supervise staffs performing duties
of an administrative character such as tne bulk of the
work of tne political officers in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (wnich
also includes judicial duties).
mureover, the colonial Office are well qualified to assist the
ioate Governments in developing medical, educational and welfare
activities xor which increased revenues from oil production are
likely to provide opportunities. Nevertheless the Colonial Office
retire sent at ives pointed out that there might be disadvantages in
their Department accepting responsibility in an area where the