IOR/L/PS/12/2047

The file contains papers related to the position of the Gulf States – Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai, Kalba, Kuwait, Ra's al-Khaymah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaywayn – under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1946), also known as the Chicago Convention. Much of the correspondence is concerned with whether the signature of the United Kingdom (UK) on the Convention can be said to cover these states, and whether the UK can or should assume the responsibility of managing civil aviation matters on their behalf. It also considers whether the UK should represent the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.

The file also contains correspondence related to the deputation of Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy, Kuwait Political Agent, to Cairo for a meeting of the Middle East region of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) in October 1946. The file is also concerned with the applicability of recommendations made by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to aerodromes in the Persian Gulf, and measures for the joint operation of airfields by Royal Air Force (RAF) and civil aviation authorities.

The main correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf(Sir Charles Geoffrey Prior, and William Rupert Hay), officials of the India Office (the Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947), and officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The file contains a number of published and typed agreements, reports, and proposed standards for International Aviation:

• International Civil Aviation Conference. Part I. Final Act and Appendices I-IV. Chicago 7^th December 1944. Printed by HM Stationery Office 'Misc No 6 (1945)’ Cmd 6614: folios 401-432
• Agreement between HM Government in the United Kingdom and the Provisional Government of the French Republic relating to Air Transport between British and French Territories. Printed by HM Stationery Office ‘Treaty Series No 7’ Cmd 6787: folios 304-315
• ICAO, Air Routes and Ground Aids Division, Third Session. Montreal (1947). Doc 4809-AGA/558: folios 120-192
• PICAO, Recommendations for Standards, Practices and Procedures: Facilitation of International Air Transport (FAL). Montreal (June, 1946). Doc 2005. FAL/40: folios 99-114.
• Memorandum on the views of the United Kingdom on FAL recommendations published by PICAO. CIV 15593: folios 90-95
• ICAO, Search and Rescue Standards and Recommended Practices Approved by the Air Navigation Committee. DOC 5045 AN/579/2/1/48: folios: 68-79
• Ministry of Civil Aviation General Principles to be followed at Joint/User Airfields Overseas. CIV 16788-16789: folios 13-18
• Ministry of Civil Aviation Explanatory Memorandum on division of responsibilities for Telecommunication. CIV 16790-16791: folios 19-38
• Comments of the United Kingdom respecting the final report of the AGA Division of ICAO. CIV 16669: folios 11-12

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.