‘File 29/3i Food Supplies – Food Control and Rationing & GENERAL’

Content

This is a correspondence file about food rationing and price controls in Bahrain during the Second World War (1939-1945). The supply and distribution of staple foods such as rice, wheat, barley, flour, sugar, tea and coffee to the population of Bahrain are discussed and to a lesser extent, other essential commodities for domestic consumption, such as cotton piece goods for clothing. The bulk of the correspondence is between the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain. They regularly exchange information about Bahrain Government measures to ensure the fair distribution of rationed goods, prevent starvation and other deprivations among the population and curb profiteering and smuggling. The topics they discuss include import quotas, cost estimates, stock levels, sale and distribution under rationing arrangements and retail price controls. Also mentioned are the hardships experienced in the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. shaikhdoms, owing to the same war-time shortages and restrictions on trade and shipping in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. imposed by the Government of India.

The file includes records of the meetings of the Bahrain Government’s Food Control Committee and also the Political Agent’s Commercial Advisory Committee and Merchants’ Advisory Committee. There are comprehensive notes by the Bahrain Government’s Adviser and Food Controller respectively, about rationing and price control in Bahrain, including sample ration cards (folios 18-29, 106-108). Similarly, there are comprehensive notes by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain about a visit from the Representative of the Middle East Supply Committee (folios 109-118), a meeting with the Representative of the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation, Baghdad (folios 126-129) and the supply and distribution of cereals at Bahrain and on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. (folios 153-154). The latter notes were compiled in response to a report from the Assistant Director, Food Supplies at the Middle East Supply Centre in Cairo (folios 141-143, 166-168). The several Arabic documents in the file include a few Bahrain Government public notices about food rations, issued by the Food Controller (folios 35, 44, 79), a petition from Persian nakhudas (ships’ captains) to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain complaining that Bahrain Customs officials denied them access to food supplies while at moorings in Bahrain Port (folio 10) and the correspondence of the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain with the Ruler of Qatar and two commercial agents in Bombay appointed to resolve difficulties in shipping cargo to Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. shaikhdoms (folios 248-250, 254, 266, 267).

Extent and format

1 file (288 folios)

Arrangement

File papers are arranged more or less chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 290; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-289; these numbers are written in both pencil and blue crayon, are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/766

Former external reference(s)

Confidential Series: 29/3 Part I

History of this record

Date(s)

28 Oct 1942-28 Dec 1944 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Food pricesFood rationing

People & organisations

Adviser to the Government of BahrainBahrain Political Agency, Merchants Advisory CommitteeGovernment of Bahrain, Food Control CommitteeBahrain Political Agency, Commercial Advisory Committee

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Cite this record in your research

‘File 29/3i Food Supplies – Food Control and Rationing & GENERAL’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/766, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/9524> [accessed 8 June 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x0000b3

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