Page 163 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 153

Enclosure No. 1.
No. 205-E.A., dated Fort William, llio 7th Fobrunry 1800 (Confidential).
From—Sir W. J. Cuninqham, K.C.S.I., Secretary to tho Government of Iudia,
Foreign Department,
To—The Political Itcaidont in«.tho Persian Gulf.
I am directed to rofer to tho correspond on co ending with your lott^r
No 2, dated tho 7th January 1809, rogarding tho succession to tho Chiefship
of Baliroiq.
2. You may inform tho Shoikli that the Government of India aro pleased
to comply with his roquost to recognise his eldest son, Sheikh Haraed, as
successor designate to tho Chiofship. You should simultaneously oudeavour.
to induoo tho Shoikh to reform his Customs administration proforably by
preauadiug him to apply to tho Government of India for tho loan of a qualified
officer to control tho departnjont. •
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3; Without; at this junoture, definitely extending a British Protectorate
over Bahroin, tho Government of India'arc prepared to consider proposals'
to*.improve tho arrangement for tho discharge of looal political duties in tho
island. Tho appointmout of an officer to superintend the Customs might afford
a shitablo means. • Your proposals on this and tho Customs quostion should bo
accompanied by an explanation as to the nature and exteut of tho advantages
to. British commerce which may accruo from'altered arrangements.

Enclosure. No. 3.
No. 27, dated Busline, the 12th March 1890,
From—Likutbnant-Colonpl M. J. Meade,’Political Resident, Persian Gulf,
To—Tho Scoretary to tho Government of Iudia, Foreign Dopartmont.
In acknowledging tho receipt of your lottor No. 206-E.A., dated tho 7th
February 1899, regarding (ij tho recognition by tho Government of India of
Sheikh named, tho cldost son of Sheikh ’ Esa-bin-Ali-ol-Klialifnh, as succossor
designate to tho Chiefship of Bahroin, and (ii) improvemouts in arrangements
for tho discharge.of tho local political duties in tho island, and for tho adminis­
tration of tho Customs, I have tho honour to roport, for tho information of the
Gorernmont of India, that I arrived at Bahroin on the 27th February 1899,
and, during tho week I was there, had sevoral interviews with tho Chief,* at
which matters conucctod with tho placo wero fully discussed.
2. At an oarly stage, I reminded Shoikh Eaa of a conversation I had with
him during my last visit to Bahrain, in Fobrunry 1898, whon Iliad suggested
that, in order to inorcaso his o\vn. rovonuos, tho Chiof should ask tho Govorn-
ment'of • India to lend him tho services of- an officer to superintend tho
administration of his Customs, whon ho had promised to cavofully consider my
proposals, and to givo mo a- reply later on. Tho Sheikh' had then informed
mo that his lcaso of tho Customs to the farmers had about fourteou months still
to ruu, and had givon mo to understand. - that ho would not mako any fresh
arrangement without first communicating- with mo.
3. On this recent occasion, tho Shoikh at first gave mo an ovasiyc reply,
and promised to consider the matter : but at a subsequent interview, 1 was sur­
prised to hear from him that ho had, six months ago, renoweel his loaso of
tho Customs to tho samo farmers (affirm of Banias) for nnotliol* couplo of yoars
and that they, had ongagod to pay him Rs. 1,10,000 por annum for tho
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