ABSTRACT
TheAmericanConsulateatDhahranwasopenedon 2September1944.ImmediatefrictionwiththeUSVice-Consul, ParkerT.Hart,wasreportedbythePoliticalAgent.He'interested himselfimmediatelyinbusinessmattersandlaterinpolitical matters.'49ItwaswithsomealarmthatthePoliticalResident reportedtwomonthslaterthatHart'haslostlittletimeinentering thepoliticalarena,anditisobviousthatifhisactivitiesarenot confinedtomattersstrictlywithinhispurviewourwholeposition... willberapidlyundermined.' 50ThePoliticalAgentalsocomplained thathewasfinding'somedifficultywithregardtomymannerof dealingwiththeAmericanVice-ConsulasIamboundononesideby directions...todoallinmypowertoensureasmoothworkingof thissomewhatpeculiarsystem'butHartwantedtodiscusscertain politicalissueswhichwerebeyondhisdomainofresponsibility.51
