Page 375 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Reforms and unrest, 1923 !
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ArriiNDIX IV TO I(EPORT ON BAHRAIN REFORMS.

Translation of Speech made by Shaikh Hamad bin ’Isa Al-Khalija at the Majlis ■ :
convened in Bahrain on the 26tli May 1923.
»
Gentlemen,—In obedience to tho ordoia of the High Government, to-day
J nssumo.on my shoulders the responsibility of tho Government of this country
with tho object of preserving the honour of my dear father and to servo the family
cf Al-Khalifa and tho public. I will do my utmost for tho welfare of the subject?
cf His Excellency my respected father and, as you arc perfectly aware, His Excel­
lency my lather has always been solicitous to preserve peace, order and prosperity
in his country and I shall endeavour to follow in his footsteps. Moreover, gentle­ i
men, I know, as also you all know, that, cf recent years, there has been a great
progress in civilization and prosperity in all towns in tliis world and why should our
dear native country not follow their example ? I say that my chief duty is cheer­
fully to attempt to promote the prosperity of my dear native country, tho spread
of education and public sanitation, to encourage commerce and agriculture. I thank
Almighty God for my good fortune in that my brother, Shaikh Abdullah, on whom
I fully rely, has promised me his assistance in Council and to co-operate in settl­
ing Government affairs. From the love I bear to my dear country I desire that
nil in my town attend to their own business, that the merchant busy himself in his
mercantile affairs and others follow each the work by which he earns his livelihood
and the peasant concern himself with his cultivation. .
I say confidently that if I find persons intriguing against the nations or indulg­
ing in any mischievous notions or disturbance, I will take the necessary action for
his chastisement. Gentlemen, I inform you that in futuc I will not suffer tho
intermediation of any «c on behalf of any culprit to prevent his being punished as
lie deserves, so it is useless'for anyone to trouble himself in such matters. Also
I seize this occasion to acquaint you that I intend to safeguard the income and rights
of my Government. After the deduction of the salaries of tlioso who assist Govern­
ment and are entitled to receive salary and after the deduction of other necessary
expenditure by Government servants on Government account, this is my first duty.
The balance of the income and taxes will be kept with me and earmarked for the
improvement, promotion and extension of' tho commerce of my country and for
such ends as may lead to the improvement of the condition of my country and -
Government. In these circumstances, I am responsible before tho public not to
waste public funds. I shall carefully consider and mako the necessary arrangement
regarding taxation, 60 that it may fall equally on all and that the amount of the
tax should be openly known, 60 that no official can recover more than the fixed
amount.
This what had to bo said and in conclusion I sincerely thank tho High
Government for their valuable assistance to us in tho past and I hop.o that
they will assist us and our Government in futuro in public progress and tho exten­
sion of our subjects’ trade and that’friendly relations will bo maintained between
us. I also thank tho Hon’blo Colonel Knox, C.S.I., C.I.E., tho Political Resident
in tho Persian Gulf,, for tho assistance afforded by him to us and in conclusion,
gentlemen, accept my gratitudejtnd_rcspcct.
[ATofe.—Original not reproduced.]

Q. M. Prow, Simla.—No. MC 194 F.D.-20.1.23-Mr-A.a, oto.