IOR/L/PS/12/3795

The file concerns the drafting and publication of nationality and property laws for Bahrein [Bahrain].

The relevant Order in Council and King's Regulations (copies of which are included) are as follows:

• The Bahrein (Amendment) Order in Council, 1937
• The Bahrein Law regarding Ownership of Immovable Property in Bahrein by Foreigners Regulation, 1937
• The Bahrein Property Law (Amending) Regulation, 1938
• Registration of Transfer of Immovable Property in Bahrein (Regulation 3 of 1947)

The correspondence is mainly from the Foreign Office, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the Political Agent, Bahrain.

The papers include correspondence concerning the Government of Iran's response to the new laws, in view of Iran's claim to sovereignty over Bahrain (folios 147-160); and a proposal by the Government of Bahrain to restrict the acquisition of land property in Bahrain by Iraqis and Saudi Arabians, in view of the fact that a great proportion of the most valuable land, especially in Manama, was owned by foreigners (folios 39-52).

The French language content of the file consists of six folios of diplomatic correspondence from the Government of Iran; the Arabic language content of the file consists of notices (with English translations) issued by the Government of Bahrain.

The file also contains copies of earlier correspondence dated 1902-09, and 1927. There are no papers in the file dated 1941-46.

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.