Abstract: The file concerns the transfer of the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf from Bushire to Bahrain in 1946, and the conversion of the Royal Navy Base in Bahrain for the use of the Political Resident.The file is composed solely of internal correspondence between British officials including the India Office, Admiralty, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf, the Secretary of State for India, HM Treasury, the Public Works Department of the Government of India, the Ministry of Works, the Commonwealth Relations Office.The correspondence relates specifically to the following:new buildings required at the Naval Base, including four architectural drawings (ff 359-361, f 285)conversion of Jufair Naval buildings as site for the new Residencywireless transmitting stationlist of building and works at the Naval Base taken over by the Political Resident in August 1946 (ff 304-319)estimate of costsplan of empty land situated at Qadhibia (outskirts of Manama), Harbour of Bahrain, which has been sold by the Government of Bahrain to the Government of Great Britain (f 208)air conditioning in the new Residency buildingregulations relating to the occupation of Embassy and Legation houses, the property of, or leased by, His Majesty's Government (ff 122-125)Ministry of Works report of visit to Bahrain and plans to build a new Residency (ff 107-117)Admiralty's need to reoccupy buildings in the Naval base at Jufair.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 368; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-368; these numbers are also written in pencil, but the majority are not circled, where these have previously been circled they have been crossed through.
Abstract: The papers in this file relate to the grievances of the Baharnah (the native population of Bahrain). The papers include: The petition of the Baharnah to the Ruler of Bahrain Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa requesting the adoption of a
Qanun(code of laws) in the courts, proportional representation in the
Majalis al Tujjarahand
Baladiyyahat Manama and Muharraq, and restoration of their rights on the Board of Education, 30 December 1934-21 April 1936; the reservations of the Secretary of State for India the 2nd Marquess of Zetland about providing constitutional advice to the Gulf principalities, 20-27 September 1935; the instructions from the Government of India on reforming the courts of Bahrain, proportional representation, education, and pasturage of the Ruler’s camels, 6 November 1935-22 February 1936; the growth of popular movements in Kuwait, Debai [Dubai], and Bahrain, 18 July-16 November 1938; the agitation against the Shi’a
Shar’Court, Bahraini courts, and the educational system in Bahrain, a strike on the premises of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), and a demonstration in the bazaar at Manama, 31 October-24 November 1938; a request by Shaikh Hamad for the recruitment of two Egyptian or Sudanese magistrates to compile a civil and criminal ‘Bahrain Code’ from all previously issued
a’lansand to provide practical advice to current magistrates inside and outside the courts of Bahrain, 24 November 1938-5 August 1939; the report of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf Lieutenant Colonel T C W Fowle to the Secretary to the Government of India in the External Affairs Department Sir Herbert Aubrey Francis Metcalfe on future policy towards popular agitation in Bahrain, 14 April-23 May 1939; and the Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Sa’id bin Maktoum Al Maktoum’s forcible dissolution of the
Majlisin Dubai, 5-15 June 1939.The correspondence in this file is primarily between the British Political Agent in Bahrain; Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire [Bushehr]; Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department; Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; Secretary of State for India; India Office; Secretary of the Government of India in the External Affairs Department; Foreign Office; HM Ambassador to Egypt; and the Ruler of Bahrain.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 101; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 76-101; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.