Page 275 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 265

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Confidential.]

No. *88, dated Dushlrc, tho i8th (received 37th) June 1903.
From—Major P. Z. COX, C.I.E., Offg. Political Resident in the Per«i Gulf,
To—S. M. Fraser, Esq , C.I.E., Secretary to tho Government of India in the
Foreign Department, Simla#
In continuation of previous correspondence ending with my letter No. 359,
dated nth June, l have the honour to submit, for tho information of the Govern-’
inent of India, a copy of a further communi-
• No. ism, d*te<i Dahuin, gih (receivtd 13th) cation • which' I have received from tho
Juae.
Political Agent at Bahrein.
It merely amplifies the information given in Captain Prideaux’s last letter,
and docs not seem to require any special comment from me.

No. 194, dated Dahrein, the 9th June 1503.
From—Captain F, B. Pridhapx, ol'litical Agent, Uahreio,
To—The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire.
1 have the honour to refer to my letter No. 191, dated the 3nd June 1905,
with which I forwarded, by last mail, a translation of a letter from the Chief of
Bahrein on the subject of his imaginary grievances.
a. Apart from the maitcrof the inaccuracy about the "felling of the flag­
staff," l have tried on two occasions—first on the morning of the 2nd Jiipc and
once again subsequently—to convince the Chief that the manner in which he
described his habit of rejecting such counsels of the Government of India as I10
lound unplcasing would be likely 10 cause grave displeasure to Government.
The last mail steamer stayed an unusually short time in this harbour and left
soon after mid-day. I was unable therefore to write more on this subject before
the post closed.
3. 1 now' beg to report that with a view to getting the indiscreet letter recon­
sidered and if possible withdrawn, l worded my remonstrances in much stronger
terms than 1 have used before—stronger even ihan those which you adopted
under orders from Government—though I do not think that l in any way exceeded
the truth.
4. I reminded the Sheikh that in 1867 his uncle Mahomed bin Khalifa broke
the terms of his agreement with Government, and in consequence the latter sent
an expedition to punish him. They conquered the Islands and drove Sheikh
Mahomed out. Subsequently, allhough they knew Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa
(Sheikh Esa’s father) to have also been in fault, they forgave him and made him
Chief of Bahrein. Two years later a rebellion broke out against Sheikh Ali,
which resulted in the latter's death, the flight of Sheikh Esa and the assumption
of the Chiefship by Mahomed bin Abdallah.
The Government of India again sent an expedition here, defeated the sue-
ccssful rebels, brought Sheikh Esa back from Katar and installed him in the
Chiefship. In 1873 Sheikh Esa offended the Government by his arbitrary con-
duct, but subsequently made amends by apologizing and promising to consult
and follow the advice of the British representatives in difficult questions in future.
Since then the Government have efficiently protected Sheikh Esa from, the
attacks of Nasir bin Mubarak and from interfering Turkish and Persian officials.
Generally, Sheikh Esa’s .attitude has been satisfactory, and when mistakes have
been made he has not failed to submit to Government’s orders. Recently how­
ever two eases have occurred in which Sheikh Esa has forgotten that it is his
duty jto accept the Resident's advice. A British force was sent hero to exact
compliance, and if he had shown resistance he vvpulcLdaubllejjshavc been driven
from Bahrein. — -----------
He professed, however, to submit, and sigr.id a written promise always in
future, to follow the advice of Government. He also promised to use his best