مجموعة ٩/٣٠(٢) "تقارير إدارية عن الخليج الفارسي - ١٩٤٥ -" [و‎‎٣‎١‎٣] (١١٤٨/٦٢٥)

Shaikh Salman bin Hamad C.I.E. (on whom the K.C^I.E. was con
ferred in the Hew Year’s Day Honours List, 1943). His Royal
Highness the Duke of Gloucester passed through Bahrain on 6th
June and again on 16th July. A net total of 891518 tons of
crude oil was produced by the Bahrain Petroleum Company during
the year, resulting in payment of Es. 26,78,462 in royalties to
the Bahrain Goyermnent. Considerable passive air defence
measures in the oilfields and refinery were effected, petroleum
Concessions Ltd. suspended operations in ^atar in June. Industrial
conscription for certain essential undertakings was enforofid by
a Defence Regulation.
Except for a brief visit to India the Sultan of Muscat
spent the whole year in Dhofar. The roost important work of the
year was the development in the face of considerable difficulties
of the Southern Arabian Air Route, with aerodromes at Has al Hadd,
Masirah and Salalah usable by the largest and speediest aircraft
of the R.A.F. and the United States Army Air Corps, and the
posting of their detachments and of R.A.E. Levies at these
aerodromes. The increase in work necessitated the appointment
in May of an Assistant Political Agent, normally resident in
Salalah. The tribal situation continued <iuiet throughout the
year. The Maria Theresa thaler, which is the local currency,
appreciated greatly during the year in terms of the rupee,
resulting in hardship to those paid in rupee salaries. In May
Muscat was linked by cable to Aden affording an alternative
outlet for the Persian Gulf cable system.
Comianies of R.A.P. Levies for the guarding of aero-
dromes were raised during the year at Bahrain, Sharjah, Dubai
and Gwadur.
On the Persian side there prevailed throughout the year
a heavy shortage of food supplies resulting in famine conditions
in outlying districts. Transport facilities declined as more
motor vehicles were laid up for lack of tyres and spares. With
the exception of the districts of Hiat Daud and Lira i Gover
authority in the hinterland was iit\le moi
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