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Coll 5/25 ‘Air Route to India (Arab Coast): Landing ground at Bahrain; Bahrain Civil Air Agreement’ [‎482r] (963/1088)

The record is made up of 1 file (542 folios). It was created in 13 Sep 1932-19 Dec 1945. 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. .

Transcription

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f'Vf
(4fZ)
Minute Paper. political Department.
Bushire Despatches j
(1) 655-3 of
13.9*32.
P.Z.5704/32.
(2) 705-3 of
26.9.32.
P.Z.6041/32._
/Tirst draft/
(3) 789-3 of
18.10.32.
P.Z.6906/32
/Tirst comments/
(4) 822-3 of
29.10.32.
P.Z.7063/32
/ ~ further
c ormients 7
^ ex. v* cxa!
fz
We have received a quantity of correspondence
from Bushire on the subject of the Agreement proposed
by Imperial Airways in September 1932 (P.Z.6041/32)
to regulate the operations,bf Imperial Airways (and to
some extent of other civil air services) to and from
and in Bahrein. A text of the Agreement embodying
alterations agreed to date by the local authorities
with Imperial Airways (compiled from the various
despatches on the subject) is attached. We have not
yet had the comments of the Government of India. But
as the Air Ministry are in close touch and in
informal discussion on this subject with Imperial
Airways, it seems desirable to reach an early
decision, and we might at once communicate to the
Air Ministry (subject to any further comments which
may come in from India) our provisional views on the
Contract as it stanas.
2. Broadly speaking, it is, I think, not
unsatisfactory, but the following points seem to call
for notice.
Preamble . 3ome reference to tne approval of
H.M.G. might be inserted here. It is true that we
! shall, in fact, exercise a decisive influence on the
| terms of the Agreement, but on general grounds it may
be well to metke It clear that H.M.G. regard their
approval as necessary in any instrument of this
| nature, and that we do not regard the Sheikh as an
! entirely free agent.
article 3 . See on this paragraph 2 of Captain
! Prior’s letter of 13th October on P.Z.6906/32. The
| alternative wording suggested by the State and
; supported by 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. seems preferable.
4-0(10
3 32
Article 6 /
/H

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Content

The file contains correspondence related to negotiations surrounding the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement (1934) between the British Government and the Government of Bahrain, along with subsequent amendments and renewals, and issues arising from the implementation of the agreement. Occasional reference is made to similar agreements with Kuwait, Muscat, and Sharjah. It also covers the preliminary negotiations in 1933 between Imperial Airways and the Government of Bahrain, and the file contains three draft versions of this agreement: see folios 489-495, 516-518, and 533-539. The latter negotiations are superseded by negotiations for the Civil Air Agreement, following a decision to standardise civil aviation procedures across the Arab Shaikhdoms.

Issues related to Muharraq Aerodrome and the Manama Flying Boat base are also covered in the file, which includes the application of a legal definition of an aerodrome to Bahrain, and efforts to define the geographical extent of these air bases. This includes negotiations with the Government of Bahrain for the purchase of additional land round the Muharraq Airfield for the Royal Air Force (RAF), and the extension of facilities such as the pier at Manama. A sketch map produced by the Government of Bahrain in 1944 can be found on folio 133 in relation to a proposal from the British Government to acquire an area – referred to as area 'C' – adjacent to the Muharraq Aerodrome for the RAF.

A map can be found on folio 245 showing the approaches to Bahrain harbour, which is included as a result of negotiations to establish a flying boat service through Bahrain in 1937.

The Arabic language content is limited to a copy of the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement (1934), which contains both Arabic and English translations (see folios 332-348), and a few items of additional correspondence with the Shaikh of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah [Shaikh, Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah].

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. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle, Hugh Weightman, and Charles Geoffrey Prior), 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. at Bahrain, officials of the Air Ministry, 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. . Occasional reference is made to the Government of Bahrain via Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain.

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 (542 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 for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 543; 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.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 5/25 ‘Air Route to India (Arab Coast): Landing ground at Bahrain; Bahrain Civil Air Agreement’ [‎482r] (963/1088), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1972, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054514178.0x0000a6> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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