Page 175 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 165

Enclosure No. 9.
No. 1007 E.-A., doted Simla, Clio 20th Juno 1001 (Confidential).
]rrom_Tho Undor-Sccrotary to tho Govornmont of India in tho Foreign Doportment,
ffo—Libutkhant-Colonel C. A. Kkmuall, Officiating Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf.
In your predecessor's lottor No. 3 (Confidential), dated tho 8th January
1000, tho Government of India -wore informed that the Shoikh of Bahrein had
rouowcd, for a further period of two-years from March 1902, tho loaso of tho
Customs, at Bahrein which ho had granted to cortain bauias. ’
2. I am- now to forward, for your information, a copy of a despatch*
• • No. 0 (Socret), datod tho 24th May 1001, with from His Majesty’s Secretary of Stato for
cucloiurei. India, from which it will be observed that
His Lordship attaches importance to a proposal rnado by His. Majesty’s
Ambassador at Constantinople that a British or British Indian subject should
ho appointed Director of tho Bahrein Customs.
3. Lioutenant-Ooloncl Moado was of opinion! that the Shoikh might ho
induced to entrust tho management of his
f Seo hia loiter No. 27, dated the 12th March
1690. Customs to an ofiicor lent hy tho Govern­
ment of India, if tho latter could sco their way to advancing a sum of money
which would cnahlo tho Shoikh to clear oil his obligations to tho Customs
farmers. I am to invite your opinion on this suggestion, and to request that, if
it appears to you to ho worthy of consideration, you will roport tho approximate
sum which it might ho nocossary to advance to tho Sheikh, and tho torms which
should bo settled for repayment. It is assumed that, without somo monetary
inducomont, tho Shoikh could not now ho inducod to institute tho desired
reform.

Enclosure No. 10.
No. 120, dated Bueliiro,, tho 13th July 1001 (Confidential).
From—Lieotbnant-Colonbl C, A. Kbmball, Officiating Political Resident in tho
Persian Gulf,
To—The Secretary to tho Government of India in tho Foroign Department.
I havo tho honour to acknowlodgo. tho receipt of your confidential lottor
No. 1007 E.-A., dated 20th Juno 1901,, on tho subject of the Bahroin Customs,
and to say that tho suggestion that a sum of inonoy should ho advanced to tho
Chiof to cnahlo him to clear off his obligations to tho Customs farmers and place
tho administration of tho Customs on a more satisfactory footing is, in my
opinion, deserving of every consideration.
2. It will ho soon from a roforonco to my predecessor's lottor No. 81,
dated 5th Juno 1899, that tho question of a loan for tho purpose, ahovo
mentioned has already boon discussed with tlio Chiof, hut tho idoa did not then,
commond itsolf to him. Sinco I havo been in Bushiro, I havo givon tho suhjoct
my caroful consideration, and I havo instructed tho Assistant Political Agont
to loso no opportunity of impressing upon tho Chiof tho advantages which
aro likoly to accruo to himsolf and to his subjects from an improvomont in
his Customs administration.. I havo also personally discussed tho question with
the Chiof (vide my letter No. 29di, datod 2dth Docomhor last). I rogrot,
howovor, that I havo not as yot soon any sign of a change in his attitudo in
respect to tho subject.
3. I would adviso, thoroforo, that tho matter should ho kopt in nboyanco
for the prosont. It will not ho lost sight of, and it is possihlo that hy tho ond
of tho year, or sooner, somo change in tho Chief’s viows will ho scon, or somo
opportunity will occur which will enable tho Eesidont to oxcroiso more
prossuro on hun in this rcspoct.