IOR/R/15/2/216

This file contains correspondence between the British Political Agent at Bahrain; the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire; Gilbert Laithwaite, India Office, London; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf; the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station, Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith; Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Bahrain Government; Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India, London; and Paymaster Commander J Dent.

The papers within this file begin with a number of items of correspondence concerning customs duties charged on imports by the Royal Navy at Bahrainbetween 1932 and 1933 (ff 6-10). From March 1933 onwards, the correspondence concerns the purchase of land in Bahrain for establishment of a naval base at Jufair [Jufayr], Bahrain, in the event of the British evacuation from Henjam [Hangām] island. Included within the correspondence are notes on meetings held by the Admiralty in London on 27 July 1933 (ff. 12-19) and 6 November 1933 (ff. 71-81); a report by the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf, Captain J V Creagh, entitled 'Naval Base at Bahrain', dated 17 October 1933 (ff. 39-43); valuation and details concerning ownership of the land to be purchased made by Belgrave (ff 54-55); permission granted by the Secretary of State for India to purchase the land (ff. 83-84); details of the negotiations with Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah and other members of the ruling family for the purchase of the land (ff. 85-89); and a translation of deed for the land sealed by Shaikh Ḥamad and signed by Belgrave and M Khalil, Superintendent of Land Settlement Department, Bahrain (ff. 90-91), dated 30 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1352 (14 April 1934).