IOR/R/15/2/744

The file contains copies of correspondence concerning the presence of United States (US) merchant seamen at Bahrain, in particular questions of facilities for and supervision of US crews while on shore leave, and jurisdiction of US citizens at Bahrain.

The first part of the file contains correspondence dated June 1944 from the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf (Commodore John Montagu Howson) and the Political Agent at Bahrain (Major Tom Hickinbotham), responding to concerns raised by US naval officials at Bahrain (in light of the increasing frequency of US tanker visits to the islands) over the lack of facilities for US seamen at Bahrain, as well as pilfering from US vessels being unloaded by Gray Mackenzie & Co. (ff 2-12).

The second part of the file consists of copies of correspondence exchanged between India Office and Foreign Office officials in London during July to September 1944, in response to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf’s recommendations for canteen facilities at Sitrah Island for US seamen, with the proviso that US seamen do not attempt to enter the towns of Manama or Muharraq. This correspondence also discusses a request from the US Department of State (relayed through the US Embassy in London, f 18) for the appointment of a non-American with legal qualifications to act as a judge over US citizens in Bahrain; a request that, in the eyes of India and Foreign Office officials, challenges Britain’s right of jurisdiction over all foreigners at Bahrain (ff 13-24).