Page 292 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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Records oj Bahrain

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with tlm mtornal affaire of tho Stato. It ia undoretood that no euoh right U
clairood in tho cnao of any of tho Truoial 8tatos on tho Arab ooast of tho
Gulf, and its frank admission by tho Chiof of Bahroin is tho most oxplloit
ovulonoo yot suppliod of tho dimensions which tho Protootojato lias alroody
assumed. ------------ ------------------------------------------------
(v9 Tlm^igji^ofjho^ualfuna may bo brought within tho prerogatives of tho
Protecting Powor, umtorni oro thali ono of tho above-named heads, according to
tho point of viow from whioli it is rogardod. Originally tho appointmont of o
British Customs offlQQy was advoonteu by British llealdonts In tho Gulf as a
rnarj< oLBiitislljiuthority. Thon it was rocommondod in tho intorosU of tho
Shoikli and tho equilibrium of his finances. Finally, it was urgod In tho
interests of Shoikli limned, his son, whoso futuro position our recognition of his
olaima to tho suocossion roquirod us to safoguard. "Whichever of thoso viowa
ho adopted, tho insistence of Groat Britain upon tho moaauro may bo rogardod
ns an illustration of tho advico whioli, in virtpo of hor gonoral controlling
authority, 6ho deems it nocossary to givo, and'which tho 8hoikh is not at liberty
pormanontly to disregard.
G. Tho abovo aro, in the opinion of tho Qovornmont of India, approximately
tho limits of our Protoctorato, bo far nn it hns ns ynt boon dovolopou. It follows
from this that for nono of tho claims put forward by tho Political Agont is thoro
any justification, and that ho should not attempt to apply intorforonco or
prossuro in tho various forms which ho suggests with a viow to forcing tho
Shoikh to adopt promaturo roforms, hut that ho ghouldjlnvolo himsolf to tho busi­
ness of acquiring tho confidonco of, tho rulor. lustructionsiiT this sonso should*
bVgivon^fCaptaiirPridoaux, with a viow to his building up a position which
will onablo him to tondorjidvico for tho gradual amelioration oi tho^ internal
administration. Tlio^oho poififupdn whmlTtlio^ovorumonrbrTmlfa dro coin-
polled at tho present BtogQ_-lQ^plfcr authoritative advico i8 that of Customs
roform, whTchTaTRiFtlmproyiousdeclarationsmado toShoikli Esa on tho subjoot,
is not a mattor whioh can bo allowed to rest until tho Chiof chooses to tako aotion.
On this mattor they aro prepared to await your advice os to tho manner in
which, and tho momont when, a communication should bo mado to 8boikh
Eso, and it will bo for you to considor whothor tho best courso would not bo
to liavo a frank explanation with tho Chief, and to lot him know that his
dopondonco upon tho British Qovernmont is not consistent with tho pormanont
disregard of tho advico so frequently toudorod to him in this matter ; advioo
which whon thus soriously repeated, must ho regarded as possessing tho
authftritativo character roforrod to in tho ultimatum presented to him in
Fobruary last. ~

I havo tho honour to bo,
Sib,

Your moat obodiont sorvant,

OJfg. Score lory to the Government <2f India*