"الملف 7/5 اقتراح إنشاء قاعدة لسرب الطيران التابع لسلاح الجو الملكي في البحرين" [و‎ب‎‎١‎٦] (٢٢٤/٣٧)

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Private and Personal #
Dated the 3l8t March 1938.
Please refer to your demi-official letter No. 37/1938
dated the 1st Tarch 1938.
2. I have looked Into this matter and I am afraid there Is
little hope of preparing the way privately for a later official
approach In regard to exemption of customs on Royal Air Force
stores.
3. K'y files show 9 and Belgrave confirms lt f that when the
Navy came across here the exemption question lead to a great
deal of rather Ill-tempered bickering| and In fact the Shaikh
only gave way to what he regarded as force majeure. Unfortu
nately he regards It as a matter of principle and I am afr Id
that a fresh approach at this stage on behalf of the Hoyal Air
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Force may serve only to revive rather bitter memories.
4. Purely as a personal suggestion I think the matter might
well be simplified If an approach on the subject of customs ex
emption were made Incidental to a definite undertaking to locate
a pennanent Royal Air Force unit here. The Shaikh Is concerned
at the state of world politics} and a proposal that Royal Air
Force aircraft should be stationed In Bahrain within a specific
period on condition that he w ould grant customs exemption on all
Government scores for the operation of those aircraft might well
be successful. I realise the difficulty of making such a propo
sal at the present Juncture, but I gather It is Intended In due
course to locate at least a flight here and I would advise delay-
Ing the customs question until the main matter becomes a more Im
mediate prospect.
5. The above| of course| represents purely my personal view.
I apologise for taking so long to reply.
Yours slncerely f
Vice-Marshal C.L.Courtney,
C .B. f C«B.L.| D.S.O.|
Air Officer Commanding
British Forces In Iraq,
Dhlbban.
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