Coll 30/27 'Persian Gulf: Shipping, Steamer Services from Karachi to Bahrein, Lingah, etc' [‎77r] (153/158)

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Copy of a letter No. 1609 of 1931. dated Bushlre,''
the 20th July 1931. from the Hon’ble Major T.C.W, Fowle. >
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C.B.B., Offg. 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. , to
the Foreign Secretary to tl^e oatern^nt if India. Simla.
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I have the honour to fetate that hy the terrue ox
\ y* 1 9’ll J-, a
their contract the Bri ti ah 1 -ITevigation c ompany
are required to maintain a weekly service both ways between
Lingah and Knrachi*
2* Lingah is not the flourishing sea port it once was#
Its former prosperity had its source in the arms tradet
^nd ever since the latter wta curtailed* it has continued
to dwindle both in ai*e and importance so that now it no
longer ranks among the jnore important ports of the ^ersxan
Gulf*
3* The trade of the port of Bahrein, on the other
hand, has during the last few years increased rapidly. As
an enterpot which supplies the needs oi Central Arabia its
trade has multiplied and it has become the metropolis of
the Gulf.
4 # Bahrein unfortunately is badly served by the present
British India Stea» Navigation Company’s subsidiary mail
Service, which provides a weekly up call but only a
fortnightly down call, and 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. , Bahrein has
suggested that in view of the change in their relative
importance this should be remedied by reducing the number
of up Q&lls at Lingah to one a fortnight snd in steed
giving Bahrein a weekly service both ways. This will leave
Lingah with a fortnightly service in both directions* £he
Consul Bandar Abbas, in whose area Lingah is situated, and
^ whose views I asked for, has no objection to the proposal
I i DIA F0REl6N SEC . far as he is concerned.
Letter BOW* t' J I ,
l - - M\r icri 5. British interests in Lingoh are very minor
Dated ‘6 AUb. 13^1 ,
■ Rec ,1 24 AUG.IS^gBipared with those of Bahrein; no British Cowaul is ^*0-
joalntained