Page 253 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 243

[Confidential^
No. 123, dated Buahirc, tho Uth (roooivod 20th) Maroh 1006.
From—Major F. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating Political Itoaidont in tho Poniaa
Gulf,
To—1Tho Socrctary to tho Oovornmont of India in tho Foreign Dopartmont.
In continuation of a roport forwarded undor this oflloo No. 110, dated 4th
instant, I havo tho honour to submit, for consideration, oortain nrobloms con-
noctod with the administration of government in Bahrein in tho immodiato
futuro.
2. My previous communication will probably bo considorod to demonstrate
that Shoikh Esa, for tho timo boin^ at any rato, hns boon brought to a sonso of
his obligations so far as his attitudo towards the Government of India is
concerned, and that ho appoars poraonally anxious to onoourngo in us tho
boliof that ho now' realises that ho oonnotlivo in comnloto prosnority unless ho
is in accord with Hia Excollonoy’s Government. This is no doubt satisfactory
so far ns it goos, but it is a consideration quito apart from tho question of tho
Sheikh's fitness as a Ruler.
In paragraphs 10 and 20 of my roport No. 421, dated 17th Dcoombor, I
rocordcd suillciontly plainly, my impressions of Shoikh Esa in this r61o and of
his son Shoikh Homed as his suoocssor-dosignato in tho govornmont, and tho
incidents of the lost fortnight havo oortainly given mo no oouso to alter my
views.
Tho report of proceedings indeed shows that evon if ho had tho mind tho
Shoikh apparently had not tho powor, to dolivor up a singlo ono of tho ton
common roughs whoso oxpulsion was domaudod, nor ovon sufhoiont resolution
to mako any sorious attompt to provont thoir escaping from Bahrein. This
surely is convincing proof of tho infirmity of his government.
3. Under tho ciroumstancos I vonturo to oxpross tho opinion that ou public
grounds it caunot bo rognrdod otherwise than as a mattor for considorablo
regrot that tho oxigoncios of imporial polities do not admit of our making our
moral protectorate ovor Bahrein into an opon and ofToctivo ono at tho present
juncture. Cortain it is that wo are oxtromoly unlikoly, in tho prcaont gonora-
tiou, to bo providod with such manifost and cogent grounds for so doing ns wo
now have. On tho othor hand by applying tho spongo, as it wore, and giving tho
presont rc£im6 a now loaso of life, ospocially at a time whon wo are witnessing
a gradual incroaso in tho European community iu Manama for whom wo
practioally aocopt, boforo foreign powors, as much responsibility as if wo had a
oomplofco protectorate, wo shall largoly inercaso our administrative risks and
difficulties. In fact I do not soo what wo can roosonably oxpoct oxoopt periodical
troublo, from a continuation of our laudablo ondoavours to carry on tho
government of tho island through tho rulo of a chief who has shown himsolf
to possess fow if any of tho qualifications necessary for tho maintenance of
order and tho soourity of the porson aud of trado in a flourishing son port like
Manama.
4. If I may bo pardonod for a for/ momont's digression at this point,
I would obsorvo that I am not by any moans tho first political oCQoor, from
Colonol Sir Lewis Polly downwards, upon whom tho vision has improssod itsolf
of nsuitnblo tract of territory in our elfootivo occupation which would forma
convenient centre of British influenoo in theso waters ; and, following this line
of thought, a Bahrein under British rulo, with tho improved pior and harbour
nooommodation, which I boliovo it to bo capable of providing undor oxport
exploitation, offors to my mind oonsidorablo possibilities.
This is no doubt too visionary and remote n contingency for livoly
oonsidoration at tho present timo, uovorthelcss it oan hardly bo gainsaid that
tho aotivity of Bolgian Customs Ofiloials and tho offorts of roprosontatives of
foreign powera In keen competition with ur, display a common tendency to
assail our privileged position in many small matters and a natural desire to