Page 187 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906

No. 420, <lntod Builiire, tho 17th (roooivod 20tb) Doooraber 1004.
Fr0j»—Major V. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Offloi.ting Political Rc.ideut in tbo Poriian Golf,
To—Tlio Socrotnry to tlie Govornraont of India in tho Foreign Department.
In continuation of my tolcgram, '* Ilabroin Affairs, No. 1,11 datod 12th
instant, I havo the honour to submit a full roport regarding tho rcoent o&ao of
assault by 13ahroin subjects upon a Gormnn trodor at that port—Mr. Bahnson---
tho local representative of Herr Wonokbaus, a gentloman with whoso name tbo
Government of India arc, I think, familiar.
2. Bofore tho onsuing paragraphs nro considered, I solicit perusal of tbo
preliminary correspondence in the case, contained in onolosuros 1 to 1A It
will bo noticod that tho two recent Bahroin incidonts involving (1) an assault
on a Qormau trador, and (2) an nllegod attack on Porsian subjoots by Arabs
and Nogroos of Bahroin, aroso far oonnooted in that 8heikh Ah or his rowdy
followers aro raoro or less implioated in both ; but as tho formor oaso has boon
provisionally settlod by rao ad referendum, it soems proforablo to koop tho
record of it separato as far as praoticablo from that of tho sooond iucidonfc
which may havo to bo dealt with indopondontly.
3. What transpired up to tho date of my roturn from tour and arrival at
Bahrein may bo summarised ns follows
On 20lh September ooourred tho assault upon Mr. Bahnson and certain of
his employes, by tho followers of Shoikh Ali bin Ahmod, nephow of tho Shoikh
of Bahroin. Bneikh Ali himself was nlso partially conoorued.
On that dato Mr. Gaskin was still our representative at Bahrein. IIo
inquired into tbo matter on tho spot, mado certain recommendations or domands
upou tbo Shoikh for tbo suitahlo puuishmont of tho offendors and reportod tho
ascertained facts of tho ease and his own actiou thereon to tho Bosidouoy on
1st Octobor.
ThoShoiKh of Bahroin took no immodiatc action whatever in thodiroctlon
oT tho punishment or dotonlion of any of those concerned, but contented himself
with despatching to the Residency by tho same mail a communication in which
ho took up the cudgels in hisnopbow’s behalf and preferred acountor-complaint
against the German (euolosures 3 and 4).
4. In tho meanwhilo Captain P. B. Pridenux was on his way from India
to relievo Mr. Gaskin at B ihroin and was met en route by a communication
from my Audstant, Captain Trevor, instructing him to take up tbo matter on
arrival and endeavour tocfTccta sottlomcnt (enclosure 6).
It was unfortunate that a oaso of this naturo should havo ocourrod just os
ono officer wag loaving and anothor taking ovor charge. Captuin Pridcaux was
naturally obliged to depend on second hand information and, at first, arrivod at
conclusions (on information and proraisos which ho aftorwards realised to bo
biassod) considerably at vnriauco with tlioso formod by his prodocossor.
I merely mention this fact in order to dismiss it, for it will bo notiood that
on a closor acquaiutanco with Bahrein affairs, Captain Pridoaux altogether
nltcrcd bis viowa and tbon ovod wont a stop further in his conclusions and
rocommondations as to punishment, than did Mr. Gaskin (onclosurolfi).
G. Tho result, however, of lm first impression was that ho ontored into
communication with Horr Wonokbaus (enclosures 8 and 0) and that tho latter
yC. not considering tho torms of settlement offerod by Captuiu Pridoaux to bo
adoq. ato informod that officer on 30th Ootober that ho had reforrod the corre­
spondence to tho Consular representative of the Gorman Government at Bushiro,
A and would loavo himself in that official’s bands. This was a ooureo bcarine
considerable political significance.
8
Tho Imperial Gorman Consul at Bushiro mado no roforonoo on tho subjoct
/ to my locum tenens, but addressed tho Bhoikb of Bahroin direot. and tho lattor
A- under Captain Pridcaux'guidanoo, gavo him a vory" suitnblcTroply (enoloeuro
\})• V hot»a°y» further notion my German colluaguo took on rcccmug tbo
Bhoikb s answer I havo not ascertained. Monnwhilo on 5th Novombor anothor
complaint was proforrod by Horr Wonokbaus against an employG of tho Ohiof’a
3283 F. D.