Page 139 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 129

10. There is, I tlrinlc, littlo doubt that cro long there will ho considerable
activity displayed by various Buropeau Powers or their subjocts in these
rogious, and I think tho only way to meet, their offorts is to inercaso our own
Consular reprosontativos, and to assist our own merchants iu establishing
thomsclvcs.
11. Wo should havo representatives at ^Bahrein and Bunder Abbas, who
should bo oncouragcd to pi°vo about and visiOlw* country'in"their neighbour­
hood. Thus tho ollicer at Bahroin should proceed occasionally to Koweit, and
should visit tho Arab coast constantly. Tho man at Bunder Abbas would
similarly go to Lingah and other places on tho Porsian side of tho Gulf. I
am not suro if tho Trucial Ohiofa on tho pouinsula terminating at Itus Mus-
sandum should bo placed undor tho officer at Bunder Abbas or at Bahrein,
and I would liko to resorvo a final opinion on this point. I wish, however,
to urge that wo ought to bo better represented, if wo wish to maintain our
preponderating influence in tho Persian Gulf, and I am, moreover, convinced
that our representatives should be Englishmen of good position and standing.
Thoy ought to havo some experience of Arabs, and should know Arabic.
12. Wo must also, I think, oncourago British trado moro than wo lmvo
done. Tho trado of Bahroiu ospocinlly is rapidly expanding, and it is visited
yoarly by tho representatives of several British firms. The Imperial Bank
of Persia, I may observe, wish to havo an agent at tho place. If wo have
a proper official at Bahroin, there is littlo doubt that our interests will benefit,
and that foreign traders will find it difficult to obtain a footing in tho placo.
I will report on this matter separately in connection with other Bahrein affairs,
but think no time should be lost in considering tho general question of
increasing our reprosontativos in theso parts.

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Foreign Offlco Prcn—No. GU—19-G-99—GO.