Ext 5050/43 ‘Formation of an Arab Centre in the Middle East for providing selected British officers with knowledge of Arabic, Arab countries and Middle East problems’ [‎87r] (173/190)

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Under-Secretary of State,
The minister of State*s proposal for the formation of
a centre in the Middle East for the training of a hody of
young British officers in a knowledge of Arabic, Arab
countries, and the problems that face H.M.G. in that part
of the world, seems an excellent one, and has been
approved in principle by the Treasury as well as by the
Foreign Office, The officers so trained would form a
pool from which the military, diplomatic and administrative
demands for personnel may be met either during the war or
in the immediate post-war period. It is proposed that the
head of the centre should be Mr. Bertram Thomas, now
Public Relations Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , who has
obviously special qualifications for a post of this kind.
Apparently he has already been approached in the matter
for it is stated in paragraph 8 of the Minister of State’s
note that he is enthusiastic about the scheme.
Mr. Bertram Thomas has done useful work in Bahrein
for the last two years and no doubt the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
will be loth to lose his.services (see the papers flagged
at Ext.5641, which show the very strong line taken by the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. when there was a proposal to transfer
Mr. Thomas to a post in Beirut in 1942). I think,
however, that we may regard ourselves as fortunate to
have kept Mr. Thomas for so long in a post which is not of
the first importance, and it would be ungracious to stand
in his way if he is anxious to take on this new work.
On grounds of public interest also it could hardly be
denied that Mr. Thomas is exceptionally well qualified
for this appointment. In any case, we are not in a very
strong position in the matter since Mr. Thomas is actually
paid by the Ministry of Information, and if they are
prepared to release him we should have to agree. A draft
telegram consulting the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , with a lead
in favour of letting Mr. Thomas go, is submitted.