File 13/8 'American Consular Posts in Persian Gulf and American Penetration' [‎5r] (9/120)

1945
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. ,
London.
ICth January,
No. EXT. 5914/44
TOP SECRET.
Sir,
I am directed by trie Secretary of State to refer to
your letter No. C/519 of 22nd November, 1944, regarding
the activities of the United States Vice-Consul at Dhahran.
2. As Bahrain is informally within the jurisdiction ‘
of the Vice-Cons ’ 1 it must be expected that he will wish
to fulfil the functions ordinarily carried out by Consular
Officers, including the protection of American nationals
and commercial interests. The Vice-Consul should, of
course, dea"! direct with H.IJ. 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. and not with
the Shaikh in view of the fact that H.M.S act on behalf
of the Shaikh in regard to his foreign relations and since
all foreigners are under British jurisdiction, Prima Fac ie
the Vice-Consul would appear to have acted correctly in
the matters referred to in the 3rd paragraph of the
Political Agent’s letter of the 2nd November.
3. As regards the Bahrain Petroleum Company, it was
perhaps natural that the State Department should wish to
inform itself of the difficulties in accelerating work
of common importance to the war effort by asking their
Vice Consul to discuss the question at issue i nformall y
with 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. , and in a similar case H.N.G.
would see no harm in his doing so again. Nevertheless,
while the Political Agept need not refuse to allow the
Vice-Consul to discuss unofficially with him questions
affecting the Bahrain Petroleum Company the Vice Consul
should not be allowed to forget’ the three points:
(a) that the Bahrain Petroleum Company is a.
British Company,
(b) that under Clause 4 of the Political Agreement
of June 29th, 1940 between II.M.G. and the
Company, a specific procedure is laid down
regarding the Company’ s'dealing with the
Bahrain Government in connection with their
lease and regarding any other matters of
direct concern to H.M.G. and
(c) that in all cases the Consul must never take
up any matter direct with the Shaikh but only
with 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. .
4. II.M.G. consider that all this might be explained
to the Vice Consul in a frank and friendly manner, in
order to ensure that he really understands the peeition.
They consider it important to avoid giving the State
Department any grounds for saying that their Consular
Officer is being impeded from carrying out his legitimate
functions. In general H.M.G. would suggest that K it would
be of advantage to cultivate,, so far as possible, friendly
and informal relations with the present Vice-Consul so
that the United States Government may not feel compelled,
in order to maintain what they consider to be their
legitimate interests in this important area,• to replace
him by some more knowledgeable and experienced individual
who may prove .to be the source of a great deal of trouble.
5. The Secretary of State is, of course, in entire
agreement with you as to the importance of avoiding any
infringement by the Americans of our position at Bahrain