Page 126 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat
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116 Records oj Bahrain
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7. I think tho abovo remarks (leal, in part,, with your enquiry ns to tho
duties of the Political Officer : but in addition I would point out that lie will
be tlio accredited clinnnol of communication betwoon tbo Residency and the
Chiefs within*bia Political charge, lie will be their advisor, and will roport
all nmttera of interest that may come to his notico. llo will have to sco that
the treaties, dealing with the slave trade, piracy, and tho inaritimo peace, ai'e
strictly enforced, aud ho will liavo to give all tho authorised assistance in his
power not only to British subjects, in commercial and other matters ; hut
also, perhaps, to tho subjects of other powers with a viow to avoiding the
interference of thoir own Governments on their behalf.
8. Tho want of regular tribunals has long been felt in Bahrein, and along
the Arab Coast, and I would suggest, that tbo Political Officer may, with advan
tage, bo invested with certain Judicial Powers, Civil and Criminal, subordinate
to those of tho Resident in tho Persian Gulf. IT tho dependence of tho Chiefs
on tho British Government is accepted, ho may also endurso passports issued
by them t*> their subjects, and might authenticate other documents if requested
to do so. Other duties for him to por.form at. Bahrain would be those carried on
in all seaport towns in connection with shipping, including the completion of
trade a ml other returns, notarial records, etc.
9. None of the duties I have referred to seem to be purely and simply con
sular, and, as most of them arc performed in India, in Native States, by Politi
cal Officers, it does not scorn that the Political Officer nt Bahrein should ho
givon any consular designation 'or jurisdiction. This will, however, depend
on the degree of subordination which tho Chiefs, to whom ho is accredited, hold
in rognrd to tho Government of India, and it may, perhaps, ho advisable to
give tho officer some consular rank which will bo rccoguisod by tho Naval
o'lficors with whom ho will ho brought in contact. ’ * •
0 '. ^ Political Officer’s charge will bo an extensive one if, as 1 propose,
^ lie is Employed in visiting the wliolo of tlio Arab coast from the Mussendum
Peninsula to Kowoit, and it a ill,' I t hink, ho nccossary to provido a liberal allot
ment. for travelling which Iiq should he eilcourngcd to do constantly.
11. I. am of: opinion that tho post should ho hold by an officer on the gradod
list-of the Political Department; but he.ought to know Arabic at any rato col
loquially, and it may bo nocessary. to bring in somo ono from outsido tho Poli
tical Department. There aro undoubtedly strong objections to employing
natives o: India or Eurasians in posts like the ono I am proposing, as the Arabs
novel* have the saiiio respect for thorn as they liavo for English Gentlemon,
and I am confident that it is bo.ttor to omploy an officer who can be doponded
on to onfovco respect, even if in some respects ho is not so woll qualified as a
man of inferior position.
12. As regards tho additional cost of tho proposed-appointment, I liavo tho
honour to submit, for favourable consideration, a proposition statomont show
ing the yonrly increase which it will ontai), together, with a statomont showing
the initial expenditure which will liavo to bo incurred tho first yoar.
13. As regard tho lntlor, I would ohsorvo that it will bo necessary to build
a suitable Rcsido.ice lor our rcprO'Outativo, as thoro aro no houses available.
. W bile a houso is being built, he can romiin in tents, ns tho climato is noithor
hot nor cold during tnd winter, but, eventually, ho and liis office establishment
ond escort must bo properly housed., and 1 do not think tho amount I liavo
suggested for this purpose is. oxeossivo. Tho iacumhouV will, of oourso, pay tho
usual font asspisod ou tlio valuo.of tho house, the cost of wliicjh will not thcro-
. fori* bo ah actual loss'td tiic Govorimiout.’......... *
.. U, A sipall Guard of.Nativo.Infantry for.tho Political Officor will, I; think,
be nocqsenry. if- ono of tlio etr.onglh. notqd
1 Unvlldor
1 NaiL-i ' ip the margin bogranlod, tho annual, cx^
2 1.'u.co N .iki,
9 I'rivalci. penso thereby incurred will bo, including
thajb for.tho passages of the annual Reliev
U
ing Purties, about Rs. 3,800. As the
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