مجموعة ٣٥/ ٤١ "الخليج الفارسي: الاتصالات الهاتفية اللاسلكية بين البحرين، والبر الرئيسي للمملكة العربية السعودية (الظهران) لاستخدام شركة كاليفورنيا للزيت القياسي" [و‎‎٧‎٨] (٩٨٢/١٥٧)

COKFIDENTIAL
Ext.2304/45.
INDIA OFFICE,
WHITEHALL,
S.W.1.
Deax Zambra,
Radio-telephone communication between Bahrein and Dhahran
When I spoke to you on May 30th, I promised to let you have a brief
note on the developments arising from telegram No.T/19 of 27 th February from
the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf on the above subject.
2. The Bahrein Petroleum Company's request reported in the Political
Resident's telegram was (a) to be allowed to instal improved radio-telephony
equipment for use between Bahrein and Dhahran on the opposite mainland of
Saudi Arabia (the headquarters of the closely connected Arabian American Oil
Company); and (b) for the operation and maintenance of the pipeline to be
included in the subjects on which communication between Bahrein and Saudi
Arabia may be exchanged. (Note:- Under the present agreement it is stipulated
that conversations will be confined to matters connected with launches and
barges service, no mention being made of shipping, air or troop movements,
mails or oil developments. In the special event of an emergency, the use of
the radio-telephone by the Resident Manager at Dhahran is also approved, subject
to his reporting particulars of each case to the Political Agent, Bahrein, and
from the Bahrein end on the authorisation of the Political Agent.)
As regards the interest of Cable &. Wireless Ltd., the position is that
you have obtained the agreement of Cable & Wireless to request (b) above, and to
the installation of the improved equipment by the Bahrein Petroleum Company as a
wartime measure only, subject to the terms of their letter to the Representative
of the Oil Companies in London dated the 22nd May 1942, and to the reinstatement
of their rights in Bahrein when the war ends.
4. On the security aspect -
(i) The P. & T. Censorship Department have stated their view to be
that the request at (a) in para.2 above does not materially change the situation
as already approved by the Fiftyfifth Meeting of the Standing Committee on
Censorship beyond effecting a reduction in the range of interception; and that
request (b) is a detail for consideration by the local security officer.
(ii) The Air Ministry have informed us that while the R.A.F. have no
security objections to the operation of the improved equipment, the suggested
frequency of 79.2 megacycles is considered unsuitable by A.H.Q. Iraq and Persia
since it would interfere with the Bahrein radio range marker beacon which
operates on 75 megacycles. They suggest that frequencies below 64 megacycles
or above 86 megacycles would be appropriate.
(iii) The Admiralty (Department of Chief Naval Adviser, Censorship)
have however stated that their view is that before a final decision is reached,
the question should be referred to the Communications Board, Persia and Iraq
Colonel W.W.Shaw-Zambra, C.B.E. /
Commonwealth Communications Council.
Halifax House,
Strand, W.C.2,