Page 305 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 295

t/i'C 3

[Confidential']
No. 27, dated Bualiire, tho 21at (rccoivcd 30th) January 1000.
From—MAJon 1*. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Itosidont in tho Poi6inu Gulf,
To—Tho Scoictary to tho Govornmont of India iu tho Foreign Department,
I have tho honour to roply to Foreign Department lottcr No. 4-172, dated
0th December 1905, on tho subjoct of tho momorial addressed to Government
by tho Sheikh of Bahrein.
2. I asked tho Political A gout, Bahrein, for liis views in tho first instaneei
and attach a copy of his reply.* It will
• No. 24 of 10th January 1003.
ho seen * that ho is of opinion that
Shoikh Esa’s assooiatc in tho despatoh of tho memorial was Sheikh Mahomed
Abdul Wahab Pasha, tho Turkish subject, who has recontly been reported upon
in Mnskat diaries aud with whoso idontity tho Govornmont Of India aro
familiar.
It is quito possiblo that the Arab, who is a closo friend of Goguyer, may
havo had something to do with it, but I think circumstantial ovidenco points
rather to Monsieur Qoguycr himself or his son. Thoy were both at Bohroin with
t Du.biro n..id.noj ni.,i.. for iho °f I^nolr poarl morohants in
ending 17th SopUmbor, 8th and 20th Octobor August, September or October 1905,t and
1005. o x............................................
it will bo noted that tho handwriting in
which tho English translation which nooompanied Shoikh Esil’s petition is
written, is a continental one, nnd that tho noto pnpor used is tbe ordinary
oro8s-ruled pattern used by foreign merchants and which to my knowledge
was used by Goguyer in Mnskat. The handwriting is not Qoguyor'a own nnd
probably not bis son’s, but very possibly that of Madamo Nattan or ono of her
party. I am endeavouring to obtain specimens of thoir haudwriting, and if-
any tangiblo rosult is arrivod at, I will submit a further report lator.
Tho prominent position givon to Sheikh Esa's grievance regarding tho arms
trafljo also points to Goguyor; and on tho other baud, tho inclusion of tho
English dato and tho corroct names of Lord Minto and Mr. Brodrick, aud
lastly tho idea whioh prompted tho dospatch of tho momorial through
Messrs. Kynoch all suggest a European rathor than an Arab co-adjutor.
3. At tho conclusion of thoir communication under roply tho Government of
India invito my romarks upon tho fact that Shoikh Esa omployed tho Agent of
a commercial firm for tho transmission of his memorial to tho Secretary of
Stato. For so vonerablo a patriarch Shoikh Esa is vory ignorant in such matters,
and I think that any remarks addressed to him from tho point of view that his
notion was a brcaoh of otiquotto would bo lost upon him. Owing, howover, to
tho fact that ho has had very littlo to do with British offioors up till quito
rocontly, and in spito of assurancos from Captain Fridoaux and mysolf, afloots
to bo uncertain whothor all his wishos or roprosontations aro communicated to
Govornmont, it might bo woll if I wore permitted to make a communication
to him on behalf of Government to tho clloct that whilo the British Qovorn-
mont aro always glad to recoivo and roady to loud a just and sympathetic oar
to tho logitiumtc roprosontations of their subjects and depondouts j so far as
ho is concerned tlio’y havo trusted local reprosontatives whoso responsibility
and habit it is to.communicate his ciroumBtancos nnd wishes to thorn fully,
and that in viow of this fact thoy can only considor his communications when
received through those rosponsiblo offioers and not through tho commercial
channels to whioh ho has noodlcs9ly resorted in tho present instnneo.
. <*»• Tho arms trade to Bahroin, whioh is brought into prominonoo in ^
this correspondence, is only ono factor of tho gonorai questiou of tho arms
trade from Mnskat to othor parts of tho littoral and if, as scorns probable the
wholo. quostion is now uudor review by tho Government of India, tho onso of
Bahrein will no doubt bo considered simultaneously with that of Kowoit
with regard to whioh I hnd tho honour to address Govornmont vorv recently
uudor my oflloc No. 585 of tho 31st Dooombor 1905. * y
(ln„JilhpTd 1° tbo 0tllerl ‘T08 to'lolicd upon in Shoikh Esa’s lottor,
Oaptam Pridoaux a comment tliureon and tho gcnornl position at Bahrein I
Bek '’ “l8Sl0U to P0®tpono any Bpcoial remarks or roooinuicndntiona lor a
4148 r, D, “