Coll 30/52 (2) 'Persian Gulf, Diaries: Bahrain News and Intelligence Reports' [‎25r] (49/951)

CT1 ’iCRET
6^
,'XO'mo. 19 of 1945.
“ “
i
Intelligence summary of the
ency, Bahrain, for
o 15th October, 1945
n
15 7. MOVEMENTS OF OFFICIALS.
5585
On the 10th October 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. left by air
for Sharjah and returned] on tli§4§th. '
*
bo/
lb
y
158. THEFT OF AMMUNITION.
%
18,000 rounds of .303 ammunition have been stolen from
the Bahrain Government store on Jida Island. This island is
used as a jail as well as an arsenal and Shaikh Khalifah, the
Superintendent of police, in his investigation of the theft
has arrested the ten policemen and seven prisoners ic ho formed
its population. He is endeavouring to obtain evidence from
them by methods so notoriously revived by the Gestapo and the
Cheka. One source of information states that the N.c.O. in
charge of the prison connived at the theft with the aid of
t rr o of the prisoners and subsequently sold the ammunition to
Persians who have since left Bahrain for an unknown destina
tion in Persia.
159. HOUSING SHORTAGI
Bahrain is sharing in the world housing shortage by
reason of the influx to the Island during the war years ivhich
was not, due to the shortage of materials, followed, by an
increase in building. The situation was temporarily met by
the enforcing of a regulation prescribing maxima in rent
increases and limiting very severely the landlord 1 s power
either to evict or to terminate a lease. On the whole,
landlords accepted these restrictions with a fairly good
grace during the war; but, now that it has ended, they seem
to
to op 1
is responsible for the interests of the tenants most of whom
are foreigners - nor His Highness the Shaikh can wholly accept
this view. Modifications in the "Law of Rents" do, however,
appear to be necessary and a committee, with representatives
from the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and the Bahrain Government, has been appointed
to report thereon.
160. NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
lcc curing tne war; out, now that it has ended, they seem
expect that the law of supply and demand should be allowed
operate without check. Neither 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. - who
The existing telephones in Bahrain are museum pieces
equipped with small handles which need to be \ r ound before the
sleepy Arab operator can be induced to reply. The wiring of
the system makes it possible to "listen in" to the conversation
of others. Telephoning ordinarily is, therefore, exlTnustivo
of time and patience; in the hot weather it results in states
verging on insanity. All concerned are accordingly anxiously
! awaiting the installation of an automatic telephone system by
Messrs. Cable 8c Uileless, Limited, at the request of the
Bahrain Government. Negotiations for an agreement between
the two parties are practically complete but the commencement
of the installation is being held up by the difficulty being
experienced by Messrs. Cable & Wireless, Limited, in obtaining
land for the new buildings required at a reasonable price and
at a suitable site. 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. has asked His Highness
the Shaikh to help the company and he has promised to do so.
161. CORRIGENDUM.
The officer referred to at paragraph 157 of Bahrain
Intelligence Summary No. 18 should have been described as
/ r-QL,
I 21 00X194^
INDIA jFFICE
/"temporary officer
t o o o