Coll 30/207 'Bahrein oil: Changes in oil output from refinery at Bahrein and Ras Tanura. Lighterage difficulties & staffing problems of Gray Mackenzie and Co Ltd at Bahrein and Kuweit.' [‎141r] (281/767)

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to him the reasons for my visit. He expressed surprise that
^ the Bahrein Government should have been associated with any
complaint registered against Gray Mackenzie & G 0 ., and stated
that he had made none either to 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. or to any
other party. ^ He did recollect, however, that during general
discussions 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. the question of the heavy
increase in the amount of pilferage and smuggling that was going
in the Bahrein area had formed a subject and that they were all
very concerned in the matter with the object of endeavouring to
ensure that adequate preventive precautions were being taken.
Mr. Belgrave said that it might have been because of this that
it had oeen assumed a specific complaint had been made although
he was definite on the point, so far as he was concerned, that no
allegations were levelled against Gray Mackenzie & Co. He
agreed that we were working in the closest possible co-operation
with the local police, who maintain regular motor boat patrols
and that apart from what we were now doing, he had no further
suggestions to make. Recently there had been a number of
convictions in the local Courts for pilferage and smuggling and
very heavy sentences had been given. Mr. Belgrave informed us
that the Government of Bahrein had recruited from U.K. one Police
Sergeant and six Constables who were expected in Bahrein in the
near future, and that it is intended that these men should be
employed in an endeavour to break up these activities as they now
appeared to be organising themselves into gangs.
1 asked Mr. Belgrave whether he had received complaints
from any source concerning the neglect on our part of passengers
embarking or disembarking at Bahrein, and he stated that he knew
of no such complaint. It is interesting to note that a similar
reply was given by Mr. Pelly when the matter was mentioned to
him and he promised to enquire into it if we would write to him
on the subject. This was done and Mr. Allcard no doubt will be
sending on a copy of the reply received.
^ Following my talk with Mr. Belgrave I had the opportunity
of meeting the Army and R.A.F. representatives who deal with the
movement of all cargo and personnel at Bahrein - Capt. Benbow is
the British Army Movements Officer and F/Lieut. Baird, the R.A.F.
Liaison Officer, both of whom attend all M.W.T. meetings and are
in daily contact with Mr. Allcard. They expressed surprise at
the reports referred to in Lomdon ! s telegram and assured me they
had not emanated from them. Prior to leaving Busreh for -Bahrein,
I took the opportunity of ascertaining from the M.W.T. Represen
tative and the Service Departments concerned if they knew of any
complaints against our organisation at Bahrein, and was assured
that on the contrary signals had been sent congratulating all
concerned, including Gray Mackenzie & Co., on their performance
in the handling of the large quantities of materials now being
dealt with at the port. 1 mention this as it appears to me the
allegations concerning neglect of passengers is probably made by
the Political Staff under the misapprehension that w T e have control
of the allocation of passenger accommodation, which is a matter
on which we act under the instructions of M.W.T., Busreh.
1 have been asked by Head Office to ascertain the root of
the trouble and there is no doubt in my mind where this originates—
inexperienced and incompetent native Supervisors and Checkers
combined with, lack of sufficient European Staff to maintain
constant contact on board ships and on shore. This is the hub ‘
around which the whole of our landing arrangements revolve, and
if there is faulty performance right from the start of our
operations, we cannot hope to carry out the work without adverse
criticism. Owing to the demands from various sources, such as
the Oil Companies themselves and the Services, it is extremely