IOR/L/PS/12/4505

This file contains correspondence relating to censorship restrictions on telegrams in the Persian Gulf, during the Second World War.

The correspondence discusses:

• The Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein in the file) branch of Cable and Wireless receiving orders from Head Office not to send or accept telegrams in Arabic between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and the Political Agent at Bahrain and the India Office seeking the removal of this ban
• An enquiry from the Political Agent at Bahrain regarding whether Imperial Airways are allowed by the censor to use the International Air Traffic Association code for cables to their stations on British Empire routes
• The Postmaster, Kuwait (also spelled Koweit in the file), receiving instructions to accept telegrams for Germany and Italy for despatch via Persia [Iran], and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf expressing the view that such telegrams should not be sent to enemy territory from Kuwait, and that the Iraqi Government should be asked to withdraw the instructions
• Cable and Wireless receiving an enquiry from the Sheik [Shaikh] of Kuwait and the Political Agent at Kuwait regarding the possibility of accepting and transmitting telegrams in Arabic at Kuwait for countries in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt and Iraq
• The Bahrain Petroleum Company requesting permission to exchange telegrams with their Head Office in New York in a secret company code
• A proposal from the Political Agent, Kuwait, for the establishment of a temporary direct wireless circuit between Kuwait and Riyadh (also spelled this Ryad in the file) during the tour of a special mission to Kuwait from Riyadh.

The correspondence consists of telegrams, letters, India Office draft copies of telegrams and letters, and India Office internal notes.

The principal correspondent is the India Office. Other correspondents include: the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agent, Kuwait; the Political Agent, Bahrain; the General Post Office Telecommunications Department; HM Ambassador, Bagdad [Baghdad], Sir Basil Newton; HM Consul General, New York; Cable and Wireless Limited; Persia and Iraq Command (PAIC); and the War Office.

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.