Page 138 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat
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128 Records oj Bahrain
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i. 1" JUL 99''
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No. 75, doted Bushiro/tho 28th May 1899 (Sccrot & Coufulehtial).
From—Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Meade, Political Resident in tho Persian Gulf,
To—Tho Secretory to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
,Iu continuation of a secret telegram I am sending you to-day, I have tho
honour to submit, for tho information of tho Govornmout of India, a further
report on the activity of foreign agents in tho Porsinn Gulf.
2. One of tho two Prcnchracn, who have visited Maskat, has gono to
V7 Bahrein. His name is Goguyor, and his Assistant, named Elbay, remains at
/NMuskat. M. Goguyor was received by Muhammad Ahdul Wahab, who is,a.
/ Turkish subject, and who has, for some lime, had a very pernicious influence
over Sheikh Isa. Muhammad Abdul "VValiab gavo Goguyer a house,. and
arranged that lie should moet the Sheikh, and have every facility for enquiring’
into the trade of tho place.
3. It is said that Goguyer informed various persons at Bahroiu that they
could easily obtain French protection, and that, for a small sum, ho would
give them certificates of naturalization. This report has not been confirmed,
and, uutil it is, I am doubtful if M. Goguyer would lmvo ventured to make
such a statement. I am enquiring into tho truth of the rumour and will
report the result.
4. In connection with this point, I woujd, however, remind tho Govern
ment of India that tho French have for-some time been endeavouring to gain
subjects and protdgds, and that the state of "tho population of Bahrein is
/ favourable to such attempts, as there aro many Arabs and others living thoro,
who do not profess to bo subjects of the Sheikh, and who might consider
themselves at liberty to take any nationality they please.
5. It i3 said that M. Goguyer intends visitiug Katr and Bushire, and
his objects, as far as is known up to tho present, are commercial. It is pro-
bablo, howoYor, that he is to somo extont supported by his Government, or, at
\i any rate, by tho French Consular authorities at Maskat and Bushire, and that
he will endeavour to advance French political interests, as well as his own
commercial ones. Ho is said to bo interested in tho arms traffic, and it is
likely that the Frcnoh name and flag will be employed to bring arms to tho
Persian Gulf. At Bahrein they can, of courso, do nothing, ns tho Sheikh has
agreed not to permit tho importation of arms into tho islands, but ho may
succeed in establishing arms dopdts elsewhere.
6. I will collect all tho information I can on tho subject, and report
again as soon as I can suggest what steps should bo taken to stop the arms
trade if started under French protection. A copy of your telegram of tho
21st instant was 6ent to Major Fagan, who will no doubt report shortly how
matters are at Maskat.
7. I hoar on good authority that thi^JjA^^ons aro now at Bunder
Abbas, one of whom wears European costume, while the other two aro m
Arab dress. I am endeavouring to obtain dofinito information as to tboir
names, objects, &c., and will let you know in duo courso.
8. A German is reported to have visited Kowoit, and to bo there now.
It is said that he wantod to get concessions from tho Sheikh, who, however,
. declined to listen to him. I am making enquiries as to this man's objects,
and-what has really occurred at ICowoit.
9. Colonel Loch has informed mo that tho Russian Consul at Baghdad
has, for somo time back, beon employing two Russian Armenians, ono Arton,
and his brother Stophen, in collecting information about Kowoit, and that ono
of them is to go thero shortly. Oolonol Loch has arranged to send nio oar y
information when tho man actually starts.
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