‘File 28/74 Oil storage facilities for U.S.T.A.C. [United States Army Transport Corps] at Muharraq’ [‎18r] (35/246)

mmmrnmrn
- 2 -
7» I kept 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. informed of all
developraenta and airranged to take the necessaiy represent at ives to see him
at a mutually convenient time.
The afternoon of the 19 th ms spent in taking
the party round the various sites at Ituharraq v/hie hter were proposed for their
camp, Ac. inis tint ion arid V,'/T lay-outs, P/ht. Ventham (O.C. , 43 3.P.) and Mr,
Ambrose (Clerk csf orks) acccropanied us. The bulk of the Mission then comaenoed
their survey and Major Van Host rand. Col, Lewis and myself proceeded to call on
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. at 1700 hra, L,T,
9* _ Major Van Noatrand gave the P,A, a detailed
e:q>l'^natxon of the events leading up to the tJ,S,A,T,C, proposals and also
explained the proposals in full. The matter ms then |eft until the results of
the Engineer’s survey ooulA be examined.
Munday f 20th was utilised by the Mission in
completing their survey and in discuscions with BAPCO on other matters, until
I ms able to ocnfe&ct Major Van No&trand at Awali after dinner that evening.
The attached sketch was laid in front of me and
discussed in terns of labour and local materials .and their eatimtea amount to
(1) Coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. Labour 500
( ii i Artisan 40
(ill) Coral 2800 cubic yards.
Talks with Mr, iVnbrose (derk of Works) subsequent
to the discussions referred to in paragraph 8. above, had led me to modify some
what ay views on our capabilities on undertaking construction and, when I saw this
sketch plan and learnt that they were considering construction in local material
with local labour, I fcrnied the opinion that it would be possible, given certain
conditions, for the R.A.F, to undertake such work — subject of course to sanction
by higher authority.
12 * R.A.F. construction program©, as far is is known
would not interfere with this work. The proposed work for the tl.S.A.T.C. would
not entail a great increase in present supervisory and artisan staff , with one
or two exceptions, it is anticipated that this could be met froa the local labour
market.
*3* In my statements above, the installation of the
Bulk Fuel Scheme has not been considered,
14* ¥y views, were ocenunimted to Major Van Hostrand,
and received, I thought, with misgiving, as he seemed doubtful whether our
wganisaticn could handle this project to the tajgjet dates laid down which arej-
Oocraenoe ccns true tier. January 15 th 1944,
Oompletion of oonstruction March 15th 1944.
Operaticms traunjence April tat. 1944*
15« Major Van Noatrand and party left for Sharjah and
Jiwani at 0?00 hra. L.T. on Tuesday 21st, for a brief survey of those two places,
16, On the afternoon of the 21 3t the P.A., the Adviser
and rysolf visited the various sites and I gave them as much detail of the proposals
as was within rcy knowledge, and they confirmed that little difficulty would arise
should the R.A.P. desire to acquire the extra ground necessary for these proposals,
17* Major Van Nostrand and party returned at 1415 hrs
on Wednesday 22nd. to pick two of the pfirty sdio hsud gone to Arabia (Messrs.CASQO)
and left alaast inruedifitely for Abadan,
18, l^ajor VanNostrand informed me that their x^lans for
Balirein were now complete ani that they were extremely satisfied with the help and
assistance rendered to them by the R.A.P. It now rested vd.th higjior authority to
decide who should do the construction. Detailed plans and sketches would be prepared
in due course and passed to all concerned.
Pa«e V