IOR/R/15/2/154

The file concerns the proposed transfer of the Persian Gulf Residency from Bushire to Bahrain, specifically the choice of a suitable site in Bahrain; the estimated costs involved; and the eventual selection of a site at Busaitin adjoining the Royal Air Force (RAF) landing ground on Muharraq Island.

The main correspondents are the Political Agent (and Assistant Political Agent), Bahrain; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Government of India, the India Office; the Superintending Engineer, Central Public Works Department, New Delhi (A Croad); and Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi.

The papers include the following: initial proposals for the transfer of the Residency, November-December 1933, May 1936; requirements for new Residency building, June-July 1936; report on suggested sites by the Residency Surgeon (Major Rooney), July 1936 (folios 52-59); report on possible sites by the Assistant Engineer, Independent Persian Gulf sub-Division, Bushire (Fatah Ali Sheikh), July 1936 (folios 60-69); consent of Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah], Ruler of Bahrain to the proposal, August 1936; papers concerning estimated annual savings arising from the move of the Residency from Bushire to Bahrain, July 1936, [February] 1937; correspondence with local merchants about the provision of accommodation for Residency staff, July-August 1936; plans of houses proposed to be built for the Clerical and Menial Establishment of the Residency, August 1936, with comments by Assistant Engineer, September 1936; Political Resident's note on the proposed move, October 1936 (folios 128-132); correspondence with Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi concerning aerial photography of Muharraq, October 1936, February 1937; report on potential sites by the Superintending Engineer, Central Public Works Department, October 1936 (folios 136-141); concern over surface water at the selected site, December 1936; correspondence concerning the effect of using artesian well water in reinforced concrete, January-July 1937; Foreign Office letter on the proposals, March 1937 (folios 208-211); and the implications of the Residency's being sited next to the RAF landing ground at Muharraq, and the possible need for a causeway at the site, February-May 1937. The file also contains ten maps and plans. The dates given refer to main items of correspondence, and may include enclosures of an earlier date.

The Arabic language content of the file consists of Arabic forms of the list of places on the map on folio 70, and approximately five folios of miscellaneous correspondence (with translations into English).

The date range gives the covering dates of the main items of correspondence; the last dated addition to the file is a note on the title page (folio 5) stating that the file was closed on 14 November 1937. No correspondence was added to the file between the letters dated 4 December 1933 and 27 May 1936.