Page 191 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 181

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Thoy woro both triod and both ondeavoured to ranko a foroo of It, and after
ono or two futile experiments tlio sorviccs of a bluo*jockot wero called In ob a
Jnst rosort, and two dozon strokes suitably administorod In tho prosonoo of tho
dootor.
Tho flogging was porformed in tho publio stroct outsido tho Dritish
Agonoy.
13. I bavo now complotod tho narrative of tho progress and details of tho
onso and fool that nu apology is necessary for tho todious length whioli tho
rolation of thorn ha9 nchioved. Und Uahroin diflloulties ondod with the prosont
onso I should not liavo thought it nccossnry to roport ill such detail. . 13ut-in
ordor to donl with tho second case whioli I liavo to roport upon iu continuation
of my tolcgrnm, "Bahrein Allairs No. 2," dntod 12th instant, tho Govornmont
of India will, I think, find it necessary to tnko tho whole situation now existing
nt Bahrein into serious roviow. It is consoqucntiv most important that they
should bo in a position to form conclusions on tho dotailod foots roported apart
from any personal views which Captain l’ridoaux or I may bo found to put
forward.
lit. As regards tho ohnstisoment of Shoikli Ali's truculent rotninors,
Captain Pridcaux and I had plonty of opportunities during tho remaining flvo
days of ray stay in Bahrein of gauging its olfeot. I can only say that both
missionaries, merchants and others with whom wo cams in contact wero of
opinion that in tho eyes of all law abiding membora of tho Manama community,
Arab or othorwiao, tho puuiahmont oxuoted bad bpon badly ueoded and had had
a highly salutary offeefc.
ID. As regards tho incident gonorally I havo tho honour to point out that
whon tho temporary situation at Bahrein oarao to my knowledge on 29th
Noverabor I had to regard it from threo points of viow—
(1) That a young European trader of quiot and inoffensivo oharactor
had been severely assaulted and that iu ordor to reassuro Europoan
subjocts of our own and thoso of other Powors for tho safo.ty of
whoso subjocts in Bahrein wo nro morally rosponsiblo, prompt
and vigorous action was ovidoutly nooessary.
(2) That ITerr Wonckhaus’s referonoo to tho Gorman- Consulate at
Bushirohad brought into prominent issuo tho naturo of our quasi-
protoctorato in Bahrein in tho sarao way that French action has
rooonlly done iu another oounoction, and that the Gorman
Government or any otlior Qoverumonfc similarly interested would
gain an oponing for assailing our rdgimo, if they could show
that wo oould not or did not giro tboir subjoots offoctive
protection.
I may ndd confidentially that I find that my aotivo Hussion collonguo
thought tho Bahroin inoidonts of .sufficient publio intorost to
sond a loug wiro to his Government on tho subjoct.
(3) It was ovidont from the reports of our local officers that owing to
tho weakness of Shoikli Esa’s rulo a considorablo amount of
rowdyism was gonorally provalont in Manama which it was
necessary to ropross.
10. I shall sny rnoro on tho subject of 8hoikh Ali's futuro whon roporting
on tho second incidont. Moanwhilo 1 hog that as soon as possiblo aftor porusul
of the foregoing the Government of India will bo pleased to instruot mo by
tolograpb to tho following cffcot so far as is in accordance with tboir own
viows:—
(1) That tho compensation monoy of Rs. 1,000 may bo paid over to
Mr, Bahnaon.
(2) That I may bo permitted to warn Shoikli Esa as from Govornmont
that SUoikU Ali will not bo permitted to roturn to Bahrein at tho
expiry of tho provisional tbroo wooks' absonoo stipulated for by
mo, should U so happen that Govornmont havo not boon ablo
within that timo to oomo to a decision with regard to him.
Tho undertaking obtained from SUoikU Esa in this oonnootion forms
onolosuro No. U to this roport.
3203 P. D.