Page 28 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

Records of Bahrain

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monlal to British intorcsta. On tlio wliolo therefore, and talcing into consideration
tho opinions of tlio local officors as recorded in tlio enclosures to the Political
ltosiclont’s lottor of tlio 13th .Tuno 1898, wo aro disposed, as at prcscut advisod,
to authoriso tho recognition of Sheikh llamod as heir to tho Ohiofslup ; but,
boforo roplyiug to Lioutonaiit-Colouol Mcado, wo desire to learn whethor Hoc
Majosty’s Government havo any advico or instructions to offer at the present
stage.
4. Tho presont Agont at Bahrein, Aga Muhammad Rahim, was appointed
ns such in Novombor 1893 and receives an allowance of Its. 100 a month ; ho
is ono of tho largest traders in tho island wlioro ho owns considerable proporty.
In October last wo hoard from Colonel Mcado that complaints against tho
Agont had been mado by British Indian traders, and that tho Agent was not
in favour with tho Slioikh. Colonel Mcado inclined to tho opinion that tho
Agont, who is of advanced ago, should rotiro, and thought it possiblo that a more
suitablo arrangement might bo mado, without increased oxpenso, if tho Sheikh
agreed to our taking ovor control of tho customs. Colonel Mcado proposed,
however, to visit Bahrein and mako local enquiries boforo submitting specific
recommendations. Tho control of tho customs should sccuro an effective check
on tho trade in arms; and, as regards British and Indian intorcsts in Bahrein,
wo may quoto tho following figures from tho Administration ltoport of tho
Porsian Gulf Political Residency for 1897*98 :—
VrIuo in Hi. omitting 000. Vnliio in a*, omitting OOO.
Totnl. Indin. Totnl. Imlin, United
Kingdom.
Exports from Baltroin to 1806.. .70.07 41,20 | Imports to Bahrein from j JX.’.SMfi 40.89 1.30
1800.. .82.61 61,78
priocipol countries I 1807.. .74.78 30,81 j principal countries | 1807...80.17 40.32 3,73
In tlicso three years, therefore, tho value of tho trado with India has exceeded
27G lakhs out of a total value of undor <L59 lakhs. In tho same period tho
vessels which entored tho port of Bahrein woro classed as under:—
Stramors. Totat..
Tonnogo. Tonnage. jloi Tonnogo.
British ... 80 G.242 231 227,805 317 231,107
All other nations ... 2,100 08,019 3 3,900 2,103 72,510
Tlio tlirco uon-Britisli steamers woro Turkish.
5. The suggestion for tho. appointment to Baliroin of a Political Officer
of highor rank than tbo present Agont is too indefinite for us to baso upon it
any recommendation; but wo expect a furtlior report from Xiicutonant-Coloncl
Mcado in connection with Your Lordship’s Secret despatch No. 20, dated tho
12th August 1898, which called, inter alia, for information respecting tlio position
Of tho British Agont, his dutios and his powers. If tho Political llcsidcnt is
authorised to vccogniso Sheikh Ifamcd as successor to the Chiefship, lie might,
perhaps, simultaneously inform tho present Sheikh, in gonoral terms, that WO
should welcome somo improved arrangomont in rcspoct to tlio customs (should no
reform havo moanwhilo been effected); and wo should requiro tho llosidcnt (o
roport as to tho nature and oxtent of tho advantages to British commorco which
might accrue therefrom. Wo should ho preparod to lond tho Sheikh tho
services of a qualified officor to manago his customs, and, if this woro done,
tho Resident might ho able to simultaneously doviso somo moro suitablo
arrangement than that now in forco for tho dischargo of local political duties
G. It seems unnecessary to notice Colonel Mcado's remarks as to Turkish
• Kncioiuro No. 8. claims oyer Bahrein; hut wo take tho
... i • i I . ... , opportunity to forward another lottor*
with which ho transmitted a report by the Commander of H.M.S. Sphinx
upon a visit recently paid to BLBida and Bahrein. Commander Baker alludes