Page 12 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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In Bahrain Shaikh Hamad continued to give abundant proof
of hie uncworving loyalty to the Britioh Government. ’ The pearling

trade ohowod a alight revival owing to incre&aod prioea in pearla
being offered from India* An alarming fall in the water-level
showed that the subterranean water-aupplloa have been tapped too
i
freely and lod to a prohibition of the sinking of any further
wells. The Bahrain Petroleum Company were oompelled to reduce
production for a time owing to look of shipping but increased it
again at the end of the year. In December the Manama-lluharraq

Causeway was opened - a work of great benefit to the general
publio•
The various Shaikhs on tho Truoial Coast lived at peaoe
if not amity with each other and no incident occurred worthy of

note •
The sultan of Muscat also continued to oo-oporate in the

war effort. He opent fotir months at the beginning of the year
in India and in the autumn retired to Dhofar for a prolonged
stay. He remained however in wireless communication with lluocat

and W33 therefore able still to take part in the direction of
State affairs. At the ond of the year work started on the
development of the landing grounds at Has al Hadd, Kaairah Island

and Salalah for use by the Royal Air Force.
On the Persian side of the Gulf the entry of British
troops into Peroia caused considerable excitement and the Persian

troops at Buohlre turned out to resist a possible landing, Ho
attempt was made to interfere with the Consulate-General and all

tension was relaxed as soon aa the "cease fire" was ordered, The
fall of Riza Ghah and the woakoning of the Central administration
inevitably led to a oertaln amount of disorder* Robboriee took
plaoe on the roads and the authorities completely lost oontrol

of soveral of the smaller porta south of Bushire. In addition,
owing tombed harvest and the Persian Governments eoonoaio

polioy, there was a great shortage of wheat and other neoeaait-
ieo of life* The situation was relieved in the biggor oentres i

by the despatoh of large consignments of wheat and sugar by tbs