Page 189 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 179

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We thon pnrtod, I procoodiog aahoro to tho 3ritlah Agonoy at Manama
and tho Sheikh to Muharrag to despatch a mossongor aftor tho absentoos.
0. December lit,—Sheikh Ali did not roturn. Shoikh Esa sont to inquire
whothor ho should call at tho Agenoy. I roplied that os Shoikh Ali had not
arrived I would not troublo him today, but roitorated tho noocssity of oxpo-
ditiug his nophow’s roturn and boggod that ho would oomq ovor on tho morrow
foronoon in any caso, whother his nephow had rcturnod or not.
10. December 2nd.—Shoikh Ali still nbsont. Shoikh E»a camo ovor from
Muharrag about 10 A.M., and wo had anothor lengthy intorviow at whioh
Captaiu Pridoaux was prcaont. I thought it was now tiino to.spoak to tho
Chiof plainly and to appriso him of my viows, as timo was slipping by. I told
him that I had in tho first instanco frankly accoptod his asauranoo that his
nophow and followors woro only out for a shooting oxoursion and that ho could
get thorn back at onco, but that this was tho third day of my presonoo m
Bahroin and that ho could hardly wondor if I began to suspoot that their
absouce was preconoortod.
I thon went on to say that my viow as to what moasurcs it was incumbont
upon him lo tako iu rogord to tho German caso coincided with thoso of Mr.
Gaskin and Captain Pridcanx, nnrncly, that tho ringloadors should bo flwggod ;
Its. 1,000 paid in compensation; and that Sheikh Ali bo compollod to leavo
Bahrein, subject to approval of Government. Sheikh Esa thon entered into a
long demur in whioh ho took up tho cudgols for Sheikh Ali and argued that he
had dono nothing to deservo such punishment, ns that involved by mcasuros
suggested, to all of which ho demurred. This brought tho spocific question of
Shoikh Ali's position in Bahrein into tho disoussion. I reminded Sheikh Esa
that I had boon somo fivo yoars in tho Gulf and that from wliot Sheikh Ali had
himself told me at Maskat I had for long.been awaro of his character and his
not unnaturally disnffocted attitude. I reminded 8heikh Esa that only six
months ago lie had, I thought, confided in Mr. Gaskin rogardiug his nephow's
troublesome personality and had prompted our representative to address to rao
a proposal • for tho making of a public
f.\2? 'C-t-fc mini!, pronouncement in Bahrein in euoi. plain
dated teib Juno lsoi. terms that 8heikh All would acocpt it os
applying to his own oaso, without tho
noccs8ity of any specific mention of hi6 name. I added that tho idea hod had
my cordial approval, and that it had only awaited tho advent of a moro sonior
Political Officer at Bahroin beforo boing taken into sorious consideration,
I explainod to him that his presout surprising attitudo in championing
Sheikh Ali could only convey tho impression that so long ns 8heikh Ali^
doings affected his own convonionco and pcaco of mind injuriously, nothing
was bad onough' for his nophow. Ho was said by his unolo to bo disloyal,
turbulent nnd mo*t folonious in his tondoncics. On tho othor hand, now that
he was involved iu an obvious offonoo against EuropoaDS or otliors undor tho
protoclivo purviow of tho British Agoncy, Shoikh Esa and his son nnd heir
were fouud to take his part and givo him all possiblo support. How did ho,
Shoikh Esa, think tho Qovernmont of India would intorprot suoh an attitudo
on bia part aftor all thoy had dono for him P
In roply tho Chief admitted his previous inward misgivings rogardiug
Shoikh Ali, but explained that ho did not four his maohinaliona orsoorot onmity
now in his own lifotimo but rather lator on aftor his domiso.
Ho thon roponted tho arguments ho had omployod boforo in palliation of
what had passod, «nd urged that tho wholo inoident or incidents would bo
adequately mot and 8hoikh Ali offcotivcly subdued by my giving him a sevoro
talking to in tho prosonco of his undo and Captain Pridoaux.
I was unabloto concur in this viow, and after considorablo reiteration and
further discussion tho Shoikh finally agrood that as soon as 8hcikh Ali
roturned—
(1) The compensation money of Rs. 1,000 should bo loviod and lodgod
at tho Agonoy.
(2) Tho four or flvo^ ringleaders having boon producod or idontiflod
should bo whipped and expollod from Monnmu.