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Coll 5/10 ‘Air Route to India: Persia; Arabian Coast Route; Negotiations with Arab Sheikhs’ [‎211r] (432/800)

The record is made up of 1 volume (393 folios). It was created in 25 Jul 1931-25 Sep 1932. 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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1 1 I
»
regard us as "being entirely In 'ttuoln-porrer' Ijx tlile-Taalrter y
negotiations will be impossible. The preparation of an
alternative route therefore is necessary, not only in order
that we may fall back on that route if and when the Persian route
is finally closed, but as furnishing the only hope of perhaps
after all obtaining an extension of the Persian route by
negotiation,
4, The Air Ministry, who have carefully studied the
various alternative routed,consider that the only practicable
alternative is a route from Basra to Gwadar (and Karachi)
following the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , This would
necessitate the use of flying boats instead of land planes,
and would involve, in addition to a halt at Bahrein (which
presents no difficulty), the development of a regular
V
landing place and refuelling station at some point on the
Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , where passengers would have to spend the night.
The Air Ministry consider that the only practicable points for
this landing place would be either the lagoon or creek at
Has al Khaimah or that at Umm alQaiwain where a rest vessel
and petrol supply barge could be moored. Prom this point
it would be possible to fly to Gwadar (which, though belonging
to the Sultan of Muscat, is an enclave on the coast of British
Baluchistan, and presents no difficulty) in a single flight
outside Persian territorial waters,
6. The only really serious difficulty in connection with
the development of this route lies in the uncertain attitude
of the Trucial Sheikhs, on whose goodwill we shall depend
in the first instance for the development of the landing
and refuelling station between Bahrein and Gwadar, and
subsequently for the safety of the personnel and passengers
using the station.
6. 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. hope that it may be possible to secure
the necessary facilities and guarantees from the Sheikh of Has
al Khaimah, or from the Sheikh of Umm al Qaiwain, in return for
a subsidy not exceeding £3,000 a year.
- 2 -

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Content

The volume contains correspondence, memoranda, and minutes related to a proposal to relocate the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Air Route (linking Europe and India) from Southern Persia to the Arabian Coast. The proposal is related to difficulties between the British and Persian governments over securing an extension of Imperial Airways' concession to operate in Persia. The volume therefore also contains papers related to the progress of negotiations between the British Government and the Government of Persia. However, the majority of the volume relates to the examination of the Arabian Coast option; this includes potential route options, possible sites for facilities, estimates of expenditure, and progress reports on negotiations between the Trucial Shaikhs – primarily at Dubai and Ra's al-Khaymah – and Hugh Vincent Biscoe, 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. .

The volume also contains minutes of the meetings of the Official and Ministerial Sub-Committees of Imperial Defence for the Consideration of Middle Eastern Questions: 2 November 1931 (folios 226-35), 5 November 1931 (folios 217-25), 17 November 1931 (folios 175-82), 17 December 1931 (folios 89-102), and 15 February 1932 (folios 28-31 and folios 22-5). Related notes and memoranda can also be found within the volume.

A number of extracts from reports (dated 24 March, 26 April, and 25 September 1932) from E C Denison and D S McGrath, Commanding HMS Bideford , on trips to the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. can be found on folios 3-9; this includes details relating to the construction of the Sharjah Aerodrome.

The main correspondents 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. , the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, officials of the Admiralty, officials the Air Ministry, officials of the Foreign Office, and 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. .

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 volume (393 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 395; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front cover, nor does it include the two leading flyleaves.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 5/10 ‘Air Route to India: Persia; Arabian Coast Route; Negotiations with Arab Sheikhs’ [‎211r] (432/800), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1955, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049269875.0x000021> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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