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Coll 54/2 'Middle East (Official) Committee: Working Party' [‎197r] (393/642)

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The record is made up of 1 file (320 folios). It was created in 11 Apr 1949-13 Apr 1950. 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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12, One of the problems vrtiich is likely to arise is the
settlement of claims by certain tribes to the land in question
ar^ allowance will have to be made for the purchase of grazing
rights.
(c) The construction of water-holes for sheep in grazing areas,
by means of which it is hoped to double the sheep population
of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan .
13# Costs are difficult to estimate since each water-hole
must be designed to fit the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. in which it is built, ‘The average
cost of each water-hole might however be £P 550. The construction
unit comprising a bull-dozer, etc., would cost about £P 8000 and
interest on the capital expenditure on this item,‘plus‘loss on
resale, would have to be taken into account. Water-holes could be
constructed at the rate of about 20 per year, with a single
construction unit. The balance of the £ 1 million loan would cover
the construction of 17 or 18 holes.
(2) COMMUNICATIONS
14. Transjordan’s only port is Aqaba, some 240 miles from
Amman. Port facilities are very undeveloped chiefly because
communications with the interior are too difficult to make it
worth using. There is a metalled road from Aqaba to the top
of the escarpment 40 miles away which was built by the British
army during the late war. It needs extensive repairs in place s ^
where sudden torrents have washed it away. 0o-t.n. 3stimateZ^- F
that it could be restored for £ 46,000. It is also estimated
that the earth track from the top of the escarpment (Naqb Ashtar) to
Amman could be made into a good fair-weather track for £ 34,000.
15. Once these road improvements were completed it is
believed that Aqaba might become of some economic importance to
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan and attract a number of permanent settlers.
16. Dredging at a cost of £10,000 is required at Aqaba
Port itself.
17. The Railway from Naqb Ashtar to Amman is now working
and improvements are being made gradually by the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
Government. The road will however be necessary to supplement
the Railway especially in the event of military operations.
• 18. The Railway to Damascus and Beirut is in operation
and has been one of the main lines of supply for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
since the railway to Haifa was cut. by Jewish terrorists who
blew up the Hammeh Bridge over the Yarmuk River in 1947.
19. Under the Annex to the Anglo-Trans jordan Treaty the Trangjatdan
Government can call on His Majesty’s Government to assist in
maintaining and developing lines of communication
in and across Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan which are required for purposes of
mutual defence. This covers the section of the Haifa-Bagdad
road from Mafraq eastwards to the Iraqi frontier and consideration
is being given to the question of financial assistance for the
maintenance of this road. •
• ■ 20. The cost of maintaining the metalled road in Eastern
Palestine in addition to those already existing in Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
will be considerable, but no precise estimate is available.

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Content

The file contains papers relating to the Working Party of the Middle East (Official) Committee. It mainly consists of Working Party papers received by the Commonwealth Relations Office, and a register of these papers with notes at the back of the file.

The file includes agendas for meetings of the Working Party. It also includes papers circulated to members of the Working Party for consideration at meetings, relating to the following subjects: economic and social development in the Middle East in general; the Iraq Central Development Board; the question of an International Bank Loan for Iraq; a visit to Bahrain in January/February 1949 by Matthew Thomas Audsley; the Persian [Iranian] Seven-Year Plan; employment of British experts in the Middle East; a survey of the oil resources of the Middle East; and economic factors in Middle East development.

In addition, the file includes papers relating to economic and social development of the following places: Iraq; Greater Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan ; Saudi Arabia; Cyrenaica, Tripolitania [Libya], Eritrea, and Somalia; the Colony of Aden and the Aden Protectorate; the Lebannon; Ethiopia; Sudan; and Yemen.

Extent and format
1 file (320 folios)
Arrangement

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

Numbers in red pen on the top right hand corner of items in the file refer to entries in the register of papers received by the Commonwealth Relations Office at the back of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 320; 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 54/2 'Middle East (Official) Committee: Working Party' [‎197r] (393/642), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/4758, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043583874.0x0000c3> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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