"ملف 8/16 تقارير استخباراتية بشأن البحرين" [و‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٤٣٢/٢٣٥)

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call on His Highness the Shaikh at the iVkmruna ralao© where
H^s Highness and his uncles gave the visitors a very friendly
welcome. The Political Agent, who acted as interpreter,
had exhausted his vocabulary of complimentary epithets before
the interview, which lasted nearly half an hour, came to a
close.
Mr. Kirk and his party left Bahrain on the last
stage of their journey in the early afternoon of May 10th.
It is understood that Mr.Kirk was visiting Saudi Arabia in
order to present to Ibn Saud his letters of credence.
Mr. Khair ul Din ul Zarkali called independently on the
Political Agent.
i
(ii) fir. Thornton, Divisional Manager (Middle East)
of Cable ahd Wireless Limited, arrived at Bahrain on May
2nd and stayed a few days.
(iii) Lieut-Colonel Martin, of the Royal Corps of
Signals^ arrived on May 5th and stayed several days.
(iv) Lieutenant Swellenham arrived on May 7th, and
was followed on May 12th by Majors Borden, Crosthwaite
and Bell. These Officers, who are Royal Engineers and
are engaged on the preparation of a ’denial’ programme
for the Bahrain Petroleum Company, visited the California
Arabian Standard Oil Company camp at Dhahran on May 14th.
They dressed as civilians for their visit to the mainland,
and were given identity cards which described them as
American engineers.
(v) The Shaikh of Ajmah called on the Political Agent
on May 10th. He had flown from Dubai on a short visit to
Bahrain in order to condole with the A1 Khalifah on the
death of Shaikh Hamad and to congratulate the new Ruler.
(vi) Two Saudi Arabian officials, the Directors of
Customs of A1 Khobar and Oatif, arrived on May 10th. The
object of their visit was to purchase electric fittings
for Ibn Baud’s palace at Riyadh.
(vii) Colonel Hall, with three other officers of the
Iraq Levies, arrived on 14th May.
TO. R oyal A ir Force .
(i) Reference para 47 of Intelligence Summary No.6
of 1942 in which it was reported that Flying Officer
R.A.A. Bratt had assumed charge of the duties of Air
Liaison Officer, Bahrain.
The extent to which RrA.F. activities have recent
ly developed in Bahrain has made it necessary to appoint
a more senior officer to the post of Air Liaison Officer.
On the 15th May Squadron Leader W.A. Chase arrived at Bah
rain and has taken over charge as Air Liaison Officer
Persian Gulf and Officer Commanding R.A.F. detachment,
Bahrain. His duties will be many and varied, but he al
ready knows Bahrain well and his appointment is welcomed
both by the Agency and by the Bahrain Government.
(ii) Reference para 60 (v) of Intelligence Summary
No.8 of 1942 in which it was reported that a levy service
was being recruited locally for the protection of the
Bahrain aerodrome.
Encouraging progress has been made in the execution
of this scheme. Within a week of the date when sanction
to the scheme was received over 1000 candidates for recruit
ment had been medically examined and either accepted or