IOR/R/15/2/1535

Copies of correspondence exchanged between British offices in the Persian Gulf, chiefly the British Residency and Consulate-General in Bushire, and the Political Agency in Bahrain. The file is a direct chronological continuation of ‘File 16/32 VI Routine correspondence with Bushire Residency’ (IOR/R/15/2/1534).

The papers deal with matters of a routine nature, chiefly the order or exchange of goods from suppliers, merchants and colleagues, and arrangements for shipment, frequently made with representatives of the Bahrain shipping agent Gray, Mackenzie & Company Limited. Goods discussed include: copies of The Times newspaper, a projector and films, automobiles, refrigerators, fruit.

A large portion of the file’s papers concern two matters:

• the purchase and shipment in 1945-1946 of a motorcar (manufactured by the Standard Motor Car Company), ordered by the Political Agent at Bahrain (Cornelius James Pelly). The order was fulfilled by the Bahrain agent Mahmood Abduljabbar Koohrji & Sons. Correspondence includes a promotional article on the Standard Motor Car Company, published in the magazine The Autocar, and Standard Motor Car Company promotional literature (ff 46-50);
• the recruitment of an Arabic Munshi, for work in Muscat. Papers include application letters, with references, checks on the suitability of an applicant, and employment arrangements.