Page 179 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 169

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1001. A±-44uLms£anco of Sir Nicolas QJgonor, it was ngain suggested that be
should ouit)1oy a British suGjconolupwvIsoins Customs, lie onco more declined
,"1
(/<?■> J' to acccdo to tbo wislios of His Majesty’s Government: In November of tho
snrao year, tho Sheikh appoared to becomo moro amonablo, and declared ms
intention of assuming tho diroct management of his Customs on tho expiry
K , of tbo loaso tlion current. Within a fortnight, howover, he had renewed tho
contract for a further period of two years. No further action was taken until,
ii*1'
(IV^1 during his rocont tour in tho Persian Uulf, His Excolloncy tho Viceroy spoke
O soriously about tho mattor to tho Chiof, and pointed out to him tho necessity
/nGv'° of a chango in tho existing arrangements. The Sheikh asked for time to
^ considor tho matter with his brother and sons; and the Resident was accord­
ingly instructed to roport further after renewed consultation with tho Sheikh.
In his letter of the 18th February 1904, of which wo oncloso a. copy, Colonel
Komball has recounted tho failuro of his further endeavours with Sheikh Isa,
who stoadily declines to reviso tho arrangements under which his rovonucs arc
at presont collected.
3. Tho need for, roform is clearly indicated by the figures given in
Colonel KOTfiFaTTslottcr! Tho Chiof’s present income from his Customs is
Its. 1,1G,200, while tho revenue which may bo qxpeoted under an officiont
system is estimated at Its. 3,50,000. Tho practicability of tho chango is
proved by tho oxamplo of Maslcat where, in partial compliance with our wislios,
the Sultan has takon tho Customs administration under direct management,
and has already reaped eonsidorablo benefit from tho arrangement. Tho matter
is obviously ouo to which wo cannot remain indifferent. Committed, as we arc,
to tho support of Slioikh Hamod, it is incumbent on us to tako measures
to onsurc that, on his accession, ho may find his houso in order, and may not
bo burdonod with a hoavy logacy of debt accumulated by tho improvidence
of his predecessor. For this reason wo considor that tho question is not ono
which can bo allowed to drop, oven if it woro possiblo to overlook the Sheikh’s
repeated broaches of faith and his porsistcntly contumacious attitudo with
regard to it. In fact,-tho reform of tho Customs administration of Bahroin
has become ji test case of tho nature and dogrcc of tho influonco wjiicli tho
British Government may reasonably claim to oxorciso over .the rulor of those
islands.
4. To coorce the Sheikh would bo a simple mattor. He possesses no
troops or ships, and the towns of Manama and Muharrak, whore tho Slioikh
himsolf resides, aro completely open to attack from the sea. But tho adop­
tion of forciblo moasuros would bo liable to arouse unnecessary suspicion
and alarm. ns_ to our intentions hulka.ffiutf; and wo prefer, thoroforo ' to effect
our object by"riftJiiTis''wllTbh, iTslower, may, wo trust, bo not less' cffcctivo.
During tho Vicoroy’s recent visit to tho island, His Excelloncy was impressed
with tho fact that our Assistant Political Resident at Manama‘docs not carry
that weight with tho Slioikh which should bo expected in tho ropresentativo of
tho British Governmont. That Mr. Gaskin was nor. entirely suited for tho post
A has been rocogniscd from tho outset; wo think that Lord George'Hamilton
was right when ho expressed tho opinion in 1901 that tho appointment
was ono which should bo hold by an officor of suporior status; and wo proposo,
with tho approval of His Majesty’s Governmont, to solcct an officer of the
gradod list of our Political Dopartmont to tako tho place of Mr. Gaskin, for
whom wo hopo to bo ablo to provido olsowhcre. To emphasise tho chaugo
wo would sond a small guard of nativo infantry as a pormanent escort to
our now Agent. It has been rocogniscd as desirable that a gun-boat should
visit tho island frequently during tho pearling soason to check tho piracies
which then occur. During tho present year it can probably be arranged that
tho gun-boat shall make a moro prolonged stay at Bahroin. It will also bo
necessary to provido tho Assistant Political Agent with a boat of somo doscrin-
tion, so that lie can at intorvals visit Katif and the outlying portions of Ins
charge, and this boat could, porlmps, bo utilised for tho suppression of piratical
outrages in tho shallower waiors which a British gun-boat cannot reach In
tb's way wo tlnnk that tho difficult question which has beou raised, of nllowinc
tho Slioikh to arm and equip a dhow for this purposo, might bo satisfactorily
secured 110 ^ addltlonal Proof of our title to polioo tho pearl banks would bo