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Coll 5/84(3) ‘Persian Gulf-Sheikdoms: Anglo-French Air Transit Agreement (Reciprocal Military Air Transit-Rights)’ [‎16r] (31/533)

The record is made up of 1 file (265 folios). It was created in 9 Jul 1946-26 Nov 1948. It was written in English and French. 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. .

Transcription

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This is an unparaphrased version of a Secret cypher message and unless it is
marked O.T.P. (One Time Pad) or Publex must first be paraphrased if com
municated to persons outside British and United States Government Services.
Any telegraphic retransmission of a telegram marked Publex must be in a
One Time System.
Outward Telegram from Commonwealth Relations Office
FINANCE & ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT. D.II
——
CYPHER (TYPEX)
TO: U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN PAKISTAN
(Sent: 23.59 hours, 3rd November, 1948)
IMMEDIATE
No.1787 * SECRET .
Following is text of telegram from Foreign Office.
BEGINS: Addressed to Paris telegram No.3474 of
2nd November repeated for information to Bagdad.
Bagdad telegram 1067. Please inform the French
Government that French military aircraft cannot use Habbaniyah
and Shaiba airfields till further notice. We hope period of
interruption will be short. The reason is Iraqi Government
decree (reported in Bagdad telegrams 1054 and 1055) forbidding
flights of aircraft over Iraq without notification as from
25th October. The decree is no doubt due to fear of Jews.
2. Detection by Iraqi Government of French aircraft
attempting to use airfields would destroy the confidential
Anglo-French understanding based on the Anglo-French Air Transit
Agreement. It would also probably prevent the French from
enjoying facilities even when the present emergency ends. For
your own information, it would also affect our own position.
3. If the French prove difficult you may quote the Air
Transit Agreement Article l(b), last sentence "in the case of
airfields or air bases situated in territory not under the
authority or jurisdiction of the other Contracting Party, the
facilities granted shall not infringe the sovereignty of the
countries concerned".
/4. Air

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Content

The file contains papers related to an Air Transit Agreement being negotiated between the United Kingdom (UK) and France to enable scheduled military aircraft to fly over, and land at airfields within, each other's territories. A number of drafts of this agreement can be found throughout the file; some of these copies contain French language content. A great deal of correspondence in the file concerns airfields in territories not under direct British political control (e.g. Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, and Sharjah), independent states (Muscat and Oman), and states becoming independent dominions of the Commonwealth (India and Pakistan). Much correspondence discusses if and how these governments should be approached for consent for French aircraft to utilise their territory: in particular, whether France should make a direct request to the Government of India for transit rights or make an application via the British Government.

The file also covers proposals for the servicing of French aircraft in India by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) following the withdrawal of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in India.

The main correspondents in the file are as follows: 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. (William Rupert Hay), officials of the Air Ministry, officials of the Foreign Office, officials of 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. (Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947), and officials from the British Embassy to France.

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 (265 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 (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 266; 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.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 5/84(3) ‘Persian Gulf-Sheikdoms: Anglo-French Air Transit Agreement (Reciprocal Military Air Transit-Rights)’ [‎16r] (31/533), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2048, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043557597.0x000022> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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