Coll 29/111 'Bushire: provision of transport for tours of Political Resident' [‎82r] (163/649)

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Vessel for 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.
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. *
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Please refer to the noting flagged at "X'
Comnander JBetlo letter of 2?th July below*
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The upshot of all this is that the n Shemara” appears to
be the only suitable yacht of all those mentioned at the
meeting at the Admiralty on 17th July** She is a first-class
yacht of modern design and in good condition; her length is
212 ft*, beam 30 ft., draught 13 ft* She was built in 1938*
she has two Atlas diesel engines: her speed is 15 knots; she
is at present lying at Campbell^onn* The difficulty,
however, is that she is an expensive yacht (in February 1940
her owner was asking £125,000) and the Minister of War Transport
told the owner a few weeks ago that she was likely to be
released in the near future and would not be required for any
further service* The owner is Sir Bernard (?) Docker who is
a Director of the Midland Bank, among other things? It is
possible that he will not now consider that yachting On a
large aoeSe is so practical a proposition as he might have
done a few weeks ago2 Sinee vhe Government have complete
control over dockyard facilities at the momentThe must remain
very much dependent on them in such matters for some time to
come* The price that he may demand will, of course, depend
largely on his prospects of being able to use the yacht jv
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In the circumstances I think that we must now ask the
M.W.T* to approach the owner of the n Shemara <, again and
enquire whether he is willing to make an offer* We shall
have to go to the Treasury as soon as we have got a figure
to go on and I expect they will be rather horrified if a figure
like £ 125,000 is mentioned^ and this is no doubt rather more
than the Government of India had bargained for* We can, however,
but see* * , n .
JV Uw) *C fH t~ t JsjX / 0 'Tk /£* In*'))’C Isdi Lt
A draft letter to the M.W.T. and one to the Government of
India informing them of the present position are submitted.