Coll 29/2(5) 'Public Works Department in the Persian Gulf: budget, etc; PWD staff serving in Gulf' [‎21r] (41/140)

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D.O. N»« 3555-65/8 .
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Ple-tc»e iefer t# my letter No> 3548-61/4
dated 29th November 1947, forwarding the works budget
for this Kesidency.
2* aou will find that under "Major Works" I
have included a sum of £• 15,000 for a house and office for
the Political uiiicer Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ,
3, The existing accommodation at Sharjah is of an
entirely make-shift nature and X asKed Walters of the Ministry
of Works to have a look at it in the course of his wanderings.
He has reported "I can safely say in my view the existing
building is extrenriLy bad and the conditions such as to be
almost insufferable for a European officer during the
winter months and of course even less bearable in the hotter
weather".
4, Both Prior and myself have recommended that a
separate Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. should be established upon the
Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. vide correspondence ending with my demi-official
letter No . 1145-S dated 14th Juiie, 1947» and I gathered
from discussions while I was at home that this proposal is
generally viewed with favour. If it is to be put into force
it means that a European officer will have to be stationed
at Sharjah or whatever other place may be adopted as his
headquarters throughout the year and I feel that no officer
can be asked to do this until suitable accommodation is
provided. As Walters 1 report shows and as I know from my own
experience no European officer ought really to be asked to
reside in the existing accommodation even for a few months
during the cold weather. Quite apart from his poersonal
discomfort his miserable quarters are little calculated to
uphold H.M.G. f s prestige which is what we mostly have to rely
on in this part ot the world. The question of providing
better accommodation would no doubt have been taken up
long ttsm ago but for the war and the subsequent constitution
al changes in India, I would strongly urge therefore
that even if it is not desired to commit H.M.G. to the
proposal to establish a new Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at this stage
adequate residential and office accommodation should be
provided for the Political Officer Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. at the earl
iest possible date.
E.P. Donaldson, Esquire, C.M.G.,
Commonwealth Relations Office,
LONDON.
Copy to - 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. , Bahrain