1. Ext 4226/43 ‘Compensation to Arabic Shaikhdoms for Losses by Enemy Action (Sinking of S.S. Dhafu); Sinking of dhows belonging to KOWEIT, QATAR, MUSCAT (Grounding of "Star of Mex")’

Description:

Abstract: The file contains policy papers discussing whether the British Government should pay out compensation for dhows lost by the Persian Gulf States as a result of enemy action. The file also discusses whether compensation should be paid to coolies killed as a result of the sinking of the Norwegian vessel SS Dahpuin Muscat harbour by a Japanese submarine on 28 June 1943; the British Government had given the Sultan of Muscat assurances that his state would be protected from external aggression.A single post-war incident has been included in the file: the looting of the Alexandria Steam Navigation Company ship Star of Mexin February 1947. The ship was stranded near Ra‘s al Khabba: see folios 21-22 for a detailed report on the incident by Andrew Charles Stuart, Political Agent and Consul at Muscat. The majority of the papers are concerned with establishing whether the Muscat Government is liable for paying out compensation.The file does not contain any papers for the years 1945-1946.The main correspondents are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant Colonel William Rupert Hay) and officials of the India Office – Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947. The file also contains input from the Foreign Office, the Government of India, and the Treasury.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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 70; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

2. Coll 30/208 'War Compensation & Insurance at BAHREIN'

Description:

Abstract: The file concerns the payment of war compensation and insurance as a result of enemy action, or action by the military authorities, at Bahrain (and, to a lesser extent, Kuwait). The issue arose in 1942 following representations to the British Government by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) concerning the company's employees and property. The papers indicate that BAPCO's concerns about war damage may have subsided by January 1943 (folio 107).The papers include: circulars concerning the British Government's official 'Scorched Earth Policy', 1942; correspondence from BAPCO, the Government of India; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Political Agent, Bahrain, and HM Treasury; India Office minutes and correspondence; copies of relevant Government of India legislation (including The War Injuries Ordinance, 1941, the War Injuries Scheme, 1942, and the War Injuries Regulations, 1942, folios 183-204, and the War Injuries Compensation Insurance: Act, Scheme and Rules, 1943, folios 5-21); discussion of the question of what assurances should be given to BAPCO and the rulers of Bahrain and Kuwait, 1943; correspondence concerning the level of compensation payable by BAPCO to their British Indian employees, 1943; and correspondence concerning the protection of civilian property, 1945.There is no correspondence dated 1944.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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 226; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

3. Coll 28/51 ‘Persia. Relations with H.M.G. Treaty negotiations: Article regarding private claims.’

Description:

Abstract: Correspondence and other papers relating to the drafting of an article for the Anglo-Persian Treaty, concerning private claims made against the British and Persian Governments. The correspondence concerns: the exclusion from the article of British Indian claims; an agreement by both parties to not pursue certain claims arising from the ‘exceptional circumstances obtaining during the [First] world war’ (f 155); general treaty instructions from the India Office, sent to the British Legation in Tehran; details of an historic claim for approximately £900,000, made against the British Government by a Persian subject named Socrates Atychides, whose ship, the Kara Deniz, was detained and declared as prize at Bombay [Mumbai] in 1914; a printed copy of a general review of British claims against Persia, prepared by Hugh Ritchie, formerly of the Foreign Office. Ritchie’s review includes indexes to supplementary volumes (not included in the file) entitled Persia (Legation Claims), Persia: Consulate Claims (Peace-Time), and Persia: Consulate Claims (War-Time)(ff 22-51). The indexes are lists of British claimants.Principal correspondents in the file include: John Charles Walton and John Gilbert Laithwaite of the India Office; George William Rendel and Christopher Frederick Ashton Warner of the Foreign Office; W R L Trickett of HM’s Treasury.The file contains a single paragraph of French text: a draft of the claims article submitted by the Government of Persia (f 168).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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 178; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.