Page 373 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Reforms and unrest, 1923
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20 : 1 and tlioir wealth as 100 : 1. I really believe I am understating facts. On
tlio other hand, tho other Government has been, so to speak, behind a purdah and
the Sunni comrnunity and its ruler have been apt to stand aloof and distinct from
other communities and, although there has no doubt been some progress, they
have lagged behind tho foreigner. It is my earnest hope, which I am confident is
fully shared by Shaikhs Hamad and Abdullah and by the Political Agent, that the
mensurosof reform wo initiato to-day will bring the Sunni community into line
with other communities. They will pull their weight in the boat and have, as is
their birthright, a preponderating voice in the administration of these Islands
ho that, in spite of some natural regrets, we con look forward with some confix
deuce to a bright and happy future for the Sunni community.
I must now give my first warning, which is to those who collect the main
revenues of these Islands—tho Customs revenues—that after deduction of ncccs-
sary working expenses, they must pay all such revenues to Shaikh Hamad and to
Shaikh Hamad alone. No drafts except those signed by him on the Customs should
be,honoured. Infringements of this rule will entail dismissal and the personal
responsibility of the guilty party.
My second warning is to the Qazis. We shall preserve the Shura Law and the
.Shara Courts to the fullest possible extent and we have no wish to fetter litigants
or those who seek arbitration, from free recourse to Shara but any Qazi who per­
mits the interference or advocacy of influential persons or their submitting eases
to Shara will be dismissed from his appointment, be he Sunni or Shiah. The
onl Iy persons who have the power to commit cases to Shara are Shaikh Hamad
an d tnc Political Agent, Bahrain, or their regularly appointed deputies. Quids
are expected to be vigilant against these abuses and to defeat these attempts by
suspending cases and reporting to Shaikh Hamad or the Political Agent, Bahrain,,
as may seem most convenient or expedient in the particular ease. I repeat that
the free intercourse of litigants themselves direct to Shara is a right which. God
forbid 1 I or anyone else 'should interfere with.
Attempts by unauthorized persons to usurp executive or judicial authority
will bo. resented and punished, particularly attempts by porsons who constitute
themselves leaders of any community as hai becn done in. the past.
Gentlemen of the Al-Khalifa :
I am afraid that looking to the past it is my dhty to warn you that you must
not expect that becauso you have taken the trouble to be born you have therefore
a right'to live on the rest of the community, whether by allowances from the
revenues of these Islands or by preying on the poor and helpless. “ Ho who will1
not work, neither shall he cat ” is a good motto and you had better apply it to
your own ease. Those of you who lend your energies to assisting Shaikh Hannul
in his thankless task of raising the Government of these Islands to tho plane of
modern civilization will bo liberally rewarded and given opportunities of exercis­
ing such talents as God has given you. Those who sit still and do nothing must
be content with a bare pittance for subsistence.. Those who do mischief will be cut
off absolutely, and punished accordingly. In any ease,.it'is Shaikh Hamad to
whom all classes must now look for reward and punishmont and the British ^Gov­
ernment^ hero by my mouth, promises him full support in all lawful exercise of
authority. I endeavour to turn your thoughts to education and tho means of
earning an honest living for you aro too numerous for all to find places in the ad­
ministration and I fear, owing to neglect, many arc not competent.
Gentlemen of tho Sunni porsuasion and especially tho Dawasir tribosmon:
•It is for you to understand that wo mean to establish tho rulo of theso Islands
i undor. a Shaikh of tho Al-Khalifa and that tho Shaikh’s rights ore going to be
onforccd equally over all to the bost of Shaikh Hamad’s ability and in such attompts
'• ho will have our full support. You have frcquontly mot such threats in tho pest
by a. counter threat to loavo thoso Islands in a body and go ovor. to Bin baud or
others.’ If that is your intontion, in God’s namo, go ; but if you resign as a protest,,
do not bo surprised if‘your lands and houses aro confiscated to tho Stato and given,
to othors, and I can assuro you that thoro will bo no lad' f applicants. Theso
Islands aro not dato gardons in desert Arabia whero the proprietors roam the