IOR/L/PS/10/893

This volume contains papers relating to the electrical and mechanical plants (electric light, water condensing, and ice plants) at Bushire [Bushehr], which were installed during the First World War by the military authorities of the Bushire Field Force.

The papers mainly consist of correspondence, in the form of letters and telegrams (including draft copies of letters and telegrams), India Office Political and Secret Department minute papers, India Office internal notes, and some enclosed statements of expenditure and revenue.

The papers discuss matters including:

• The proposals for the electrical and mechanical plants to be taken over by the Government of India from HMG for the benefit of staff of the Military and Political Departments of the Government of India and the Indo-European Telegraph Department
• The division of the initial and recurrent expenditure on the plants between the Military, Political and Indo-European Telegraph Departments, and between the Government of India and HMG
• Statements of expenses connected with the working of the plants for the year 1923-24, the first twelve months of their operation after being taken over, requested by the Foreign Office
• Proposals for the future of the electrical and mechanical plants
• The sale of the ice plant at Bushire
• The adjustment of charges on account of the maintenance of the electrical and mechanical plants at Bushire during the period 1 April 1926 to 31 March 1930, including: the question of the proportion in which the expenditure on running the plants should be divided between the Political and Indo-European Telegraph Departments, following the Military Department ceasing to participate in the maintenance and working of the plants after the withdrawal of the military detachments from Bushire on 23 March 1926; and the Government of India’s request that HMG (the Foreign Office) accept a moiety of the cost of maintaining the electrical and mechanical plants
• The proposal to install masonry water tanks in place of the water condenser plant at Bushire
• The Foreign Office proposal that the Indo-European Telegraph Department should not expect to receive a full share of the proceeds of the sale of the existing plant as well as to be free of liability during the period since their withdrawal (since 1 April 1930).

The correspondence is mostly between the following: India Office officials; the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department; the Foreign Office; and the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.