4. The premises of the Centre are in need of repair and re-equipment; there are very few amenities or opportunities for recreation for the students; much of the accommodation is primitive. These conditions do not encourage attendance by fee-paying outside students, e.g., from the banks and oil companies, whose influence for good in the Middle East would be much enhanced if they had passed through the Centre. If conditions were improved, the Centre would be likely not only to attract more students but would improve its efficiency and turn out better Arabists.
The Working Party therefore recommends that the Treasury should give sympathetic consideration to any proposals made by the Foreign Office for the repair, maintenance and improvement of the Centre's buildings and for the provision of better living conditions up to an initial cost of £15,000 and up to £5,000 a year thereafter.
Air-Conditioning
5. Living and working conditions in the Middle East could be greatly improved by the extensive installation of air-conditioning in offices, Her Majesty's Government houses and hiring. Although a certain amount of air-conditioning has already been installed there are insufficient funds available to do more than cater for the worst places. Without making an extensive survey of all properties and hirings it is not possible to give an accurate estimate of what is required. The Working Party agrees, however, that £30,000 could well be spent in the first year. During the following two years further expenditure also would be required, but at this stage it is not possible to give more than an approximate estimate of another £30,000 in each of the two years.
Aircraft
6. Better means of air travel are required for the Political Resident, Persiau Gulf. At present he has either to rely on a wing of decrepit Ansons which are stationed at Bahrain, or use scheduled aircraft or charter. In view of the importance of the area, the distances involved and the time factor, the Working Party considers that he should have an aircraft at his disposal mainly for efficiency but also for prestige. The means to effect this remain to be investigated in detail but the present estimated cost is £35,000 annually.
Launches
7. For official requirements, prestige and recreation, the Working Party agrees that posts in the Persian Gulf area should all have launches. At present those without launches are Khorramshahr, Doha and Abu Dhabi. The Working Party agreed in principle to the provision of proper launches. The provisional estimate is £20,000 capital cost and £5,000 a year running costs.
Buildings
8. A considerable amount of building could be done in the Middle East area in order to provide better offices, better residences and staff houses. The provision of up-to-date offices would greatly improve our prestige and the efficiency of the staff. Better residences would ease the task of the Ambassador and the provision of staff houses would enable the staff to live in better and more attractive conditions. Any building scheme, however, takes a long time to develop and little money could be spent in the first eighteen months. Thereafter, with a carefully phased programme, a considerable amount of money could be well spent each year. Since building is very expensive and long term, only the most important project among many (that at Damascus) is included here.
In view of the importance of Syria, the unsuitability and insecurity of tenure of the present offices and residence in Damascus, it is recommended that a new combined Embassy residence and offices should be built on the site which Her Majesty's Government now own there.
ESTIMATED COST is £100,000
The cost of this project would be nothing in the first year, about £20,000 in the second year, and £80,000 in the third year.
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