IOR/R/15/2/145

The file concerns the transhipment of goods from merchant ships to dhows in Bahrain harbour (also referred as Bahrein) in order to avoid paying customs duty; the effect of this on the Bahrain economy; the levying by Bahrain of transit dues on shipping; and relations between Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The correspondence is mainly between the Political Agent, Bahrain and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. There is also correspondence from Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain; from Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Company, and the Mesopotamia Persia Corporation, agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited; and from staff and agents of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company Limited. Enclosures to correspondence from the Political Resident to the Political Agent, Bahrain include correspondence from the British Legation, Jedda [Jeddah]; the Foreign Office; the India Office; the Board of Trade; and the Government of India.

The papers cover: the level and nature of the customs dues set by the Bahrain State; the importance of customs revenue to the Bahrain economy (e.g. folios 10 and 109); the transhipment (also known as 'overside delivery') of goods shipped by Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Company, and the Mesopotamia Persia Corporation, which were bound for Ojair [al-‘Uqayr] in Saudi Arabia, and the role of Captain Charles Geoffrey Prior in arranging an agreement to discontinue transhipment, October 1931 - June 1932; the imposition by Bahrain of transit dues on the Eastern Steamship Company ship SS Ahmedi, which was carrying goods for Bahrain and Ojair, October 1932 - January 1933; and protests by Saudi Arabia, December 1932. (The dates given refer to main items of correspondence, which may include enclosures of an earlier date.)

The date range gives the overall covering dates of the correspondence; the last dated addition to the file is a note on folio 275 dated 1 February 1933.

The Arabic language content of the file consists of seven folios: principally a letter (with translation in English) from Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifah [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] to the Political Resident on folios 57-61.