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Coll 30/210(2) 'Bahrein Oil: Employment of U.S.Provost Personnel for Control of American labour.' [‎410r] (827/1013)

The record is made up of 1 file (502 folios). It was created in 1 Mar 1944-18 Jan 1946. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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(m6)
! EXt
inward telegram
Alx .^ted to Exte r nal I)op artrnent >
Copies Circulated.
CYPHER TELEGRaK (O.T.P.)
From Political-Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
To Secretary of State for India-
Repeated to Delhi and Bahrein.,
Btishire* 16 o 00 hours, 28th March, 1944.
22.00 hours, 28th March, 1944.
Dated
Received
IMPORTAN T. ~
796.
, Addressed Secretary of State for India repeated to
Delhj and Bahrain (saving)*
Your telegram 6646 March 18tho
2. As the American Consul’s ICxc^quatur to the Saudi
Government will according to internetiomd practice specify his
district, i. e. Dham?an I am not clear how fai’ we can formally
recognise his jurisdiction in Bahrain* er State foreign to Saudi
Arabia, without the concurrence of Saudi Government to whose territory
he is specifically appointed., Diplifnatic Missions often cover more
than one territory but I do not recall similar instances V? consular
jurisdiction.
*3* .In our discussions with Persia we have rigidly
refrained from public examination and discussion of our position in
the islands. If proposed appointment is formally recognised we &iay
sooner or later have to race such examination and discussion if
requests for similar facilities\for their Consuls at Jedda or
elsewhere are made by Iraq or Persia or cny other power. An addsd
complication in such an event would be that we would either have to
admit that exclusive agreement of 1892 is a dead letter or take a
stand on this agreement and declare Bahrain a protectorate.
Taking all this into consideration I suggest our best
course would be to endeavour to avoid formally recognising jurisdiction
of U.S. Consul at Dhahran and allow him to enter Bahrain on the
same fop-ting as his colleagues at Bagdad or Basra. This should
satisfy Americans v/ho have been informed of our difficulties but in
last/^esort the Kings 5 Bxeq&ater should suffice. The Sheikh is a
small or man than Sultan of Zanzibar and there are gravest objections
to giving him any international position*
^ Incidentally, 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. reports that Sheikh’s
attitude toward. Americans has recently undergone a change owing
largely to behaviour of Bahrain Petroleum Company employees and ho
would now be disturbed and not repeat not’ flattered by presence of
American Consulate.
'1

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Content

The file concerns the secondment of eight serving British police officers (one inspector, one sergeant, and six constables) to serve with the Bahrain State Police. The issue arose in 1944 following incidents at Bahrain involving United States (US) citizens employed in refinery construction (particularly those employed by the Bechtel-McCone-Parsons Corporation) and US merchant seamen. It was considered that the local Arab police were unable to deal with the situation unaided. Various proposals were discussed, including the use of US Provost personnel, and the supply of British military police. In view of the fact that the British Government exercised limited jurisdiction in Bahrain (particularly control over foreigners), the decision was taken to recruit British policemen.

The papers include: Bahrain State Police conditions of service (folios 484-502); miscellaneous papers concerned with the individuals recruited (folios 412-483); discussion of the possible use of US Provost personnel, March-September 1944 (including correspondence from 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. , the Foreign Office, the War Office, and the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ); discussion of the possible use of British military police and National Fire Service personnel, August-October 1944; papers concerning the recruitment of British police officers from the United Kingdom (including correspondence from the Home Office, and the various constabularies involved); their terms and conditions; lists of applicants and interview papers; papers concerning the British policemen's uniform, pay, and passage to Bahrain; and papers concerning conditions in Bahrain, and the resignation of Inspector Charles H Crowe, October-December 1945.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (502 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 503; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Foliation anomaly: 1b.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 30/210(2) 'Bahrein Oil: Employment of U.S.Provost Personnel for Control of American labour.' [‎410r] (827/1013), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3951A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100070648673.0x00001e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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