Coll 29/2(3) 'Royal Naval Base Bahrain: transfer and adaptation for use as Political Residency' [‎27r] (53/737)

Dear Sir Rupert,
I have ®nly just received Walter’s Repart and Minutes
•f the Meeting held at Bahrain 25th Octsber - which appears t®
have been delayed in the p^st.
Regarding the revised and alternative area ©f site
pr®p©sed at this Meeting, it is difficult t® say haw we can
devel®p this area without details ©f a schedule ©f acp©mrii}dati>.*n
and I have, therefore, requested L®nd©n t© send further inf@rmati©r
If y©u have any such information ®r views I shall be much ©bilged
if you will let me have them.
I note from the Minutes ®f the Meeting held in London at
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. on 16th july, 1947 that it was then suggested
"that it would be as cell to provide services for
the building ®f living accommodation for the .Political
Agent and his staff in the new Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Compound
since the standard of amenities there was likely t©
oe higher than those in the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and it was
highly undesirable that the subordinate staff of the
two offices should have a marked differenciation of their
conditions of life."
The possibility cf the P.A.’s requirements will, of course
have a i*.rge bearing on the siting problems and I feel it would be
as well to have this point cleared.
The agreement to erect a two-stofey building for the
three married officers for occupation by May, 1948, is, I fear, a
practical impossibility as it is clear that there are no fittings
@r supplies available in Bahrain and these w©uld have t.® tee
imported from England. Knowing ©ur difficulties in getting the
minimum supplies for existing works at present in progress in the
Middle and Kea'r East - of which Walters may not have been aware -
it would tee unfortunate if we promised something which we could
not possibly carry out.
The question of obtaining financial authority is also
likely to delay matters as it has already been ruled that any long
term solution will have to form part of the main scheme. I also
feel it would be unwise to attempt to rush up a sub-standard •
building costing at least £.15,000 and even if the Navy would be
satisfied at present with such a building, ©nee our Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
buildings were completed the future naval occupants of such
accommodation would consider that they had a legitimate grouse at
the standard the M.O.W. hp.d provided for them.
This latter argument may, I know, tee considered a lefcser
one teut there is no doubt that we cannot obtain materials -t this
stage to erect by May, 1948, and it would be most unfortunate if
I did not make this point quite clear now.
As we kn&w the immediate admiralty requirements, financial
authority is teeing sought for the erection of a new building
vjased on the accommodation requirements forwarded by Walters, and
sketch plans are teeing prepared sn that thee earliest start can
oe made when approval is received. I trust that you will concur
with this proposal.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/- J.a. Douglas.
Sir Rupert Hay, KCSI., CIE., ETC.