Page 55 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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informed that the Government of India were abandoning for the time being their
proposal to appoint a Trade Agent, and also that the Commercial Secretary of the
Indian Legation, at Baghdad could visit Bahrain on the same conditions.C"r) This
arrangement has held good ever since and the Charge d’Aflaires of the Indian
Legation at Baghdad has visited Bahrain once or twice a year. He has strictly
confined himself to the alTairs of his nationals and his behaviour has been in every
respect correct. One of his visits in 1951 formed the subject ot a protest by the
Persian Government to the Government of India who were not in any way
concerned by the protest.(UN) In December 1948 an Indian Good-will Mission
visited Bahrain, their main object being to enquire into the conditions under which
Indians were serving with the oil company.(,K") They went to Awali and brought
a few matters to notice, but found the conditions much belter than they had
expected. They called on the Ruler who welcomed them cordially and gave them
presents. At the beginning of 1951 two frigates of the Indian Navy visited Bahrain .
and made a very good impression.
95. Most of the pearls from Bahrain and elsewhere in the Gulf are sent to
Bombay for boring and polishing. In 1947 the Government of India imposed a ban
on the import of pearls which caused much alarm in Bahrain. Representations
were made and the ban was lifted.!11"’) In 1953 the Government of India imposed
a 20% import duty on pearls. Representations were made by Salman and some
of the Trucial States Rulers and the matter was taken up informally with the
Government of India.(,BI) In 1950 with the consent of the Ruler a fisheries expert
from Madras visited Bahrain and took away with him some live pearl oysters for
experimental purposes.
96. The Bahrain census of 1950 showed that there were 3,043 nationals of the
Indian sub-continent living there as against 1,424 in 1941. Some of these were
employed by the oil company but the majority were trading in Manamah. In 1949
before these figures were known the Ruler had become alarmed at the rapid growth
of the Indian and Pakistani population of Manamah and was anxious that his own
subjects should not be deprived of their local trade. A system was already in
force whereby Indians and Pakistanis before they could be granted visas for Bahrain
had to obtain “ No Objection Certificates ” from the Political Agent. This system
is not covered by any understanding with the present Governments of India and
Pakistan but has never been objected to by them. At the Ruler’s request it was
agreed that in future a reference should be made to his Government before any
certificate was granted. This led to some agitation in the Indian press but no
representation was received from the Government of India. Indians and
Pakistanis are in fact allowed to visit Bahrain freely provided they have no intention
of setting up business there. The Indians resident in Bahrain include several
merchants of high standing and generally speaking give no trouble.
(/) Pakistan
97. In November 1947 the Pakistan Government stated that they did not
wish for separate consular representation in the Persian Gulf, but that they were
anxious that the post of Indian Assistant to the Political Agent at Bahrain, which
they assumed would always be held by a Pakistani, should be continued. They
asked that if there was at any time any question of its abandonment a prior
reference would be made to them.!'92) The post, the name of which had been
changed in the meanwhile to Judicial Assistant, was abolished in 1953, but in view
of the time which had elapsed and developments which had taken place in the
meanwhile no reference was made to the Pakistan Government.
98. In May 1949 the Secretary to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
while on a visit to London asked for the appointment of a Pakistan Vice-Consul
at Bahrain.!193) It was suggested to him that a Trade Agent should be appointed
and subsequently the Pakistan Government agreed reluctantly 4* to have a trade
representative at Bahrain to begin with.”!,u’) The question of this appointment
(••’) C.R.O. to F.O. Enel, of Jan. 31. 1951 (EA 1905/3 of 1951).
C”) C.R.O. to F.O. F 4170/43 of July 5. 1951 (EA 1081/41 of 1951).
(•*•) P.R.toF.O. Despatch 6 of January 18. 1949 (E 1391 /1062/91 of 1949).
('•■■) C.R.O. to F.O. Ext. 591 /48 of March 5. 1948 (E 3065/24/91 of 1948).
C*1) Early in 1954 the Government of India abolished this duty.
('*=) C.R.O. to F.O. Ext. 2666/47 of December 30. 1947 (F 250/95/85 of 1948).
(,M) (F 6842/1028/28 of 1949.)
(m) C.R.O. to F.O. Ext. 8438/49 of October 26. 1949 (E 13070/1901/91 of 1949).