Page 310 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

w

300 Records oj Bahrain

No. 73, dated Busliiro, llio 26lli Fobrunry (rccoivcil 13th Mnrch) 1000 Confidential).
From—Major I*. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident iu tho Porainn Gulf,
To—Tho Sccrotnry to tho Govornmcnt of India in tho Foreign Doparlmont.
I lmvo tho honour to advorfc to tho oorrospondonoo on tho subject of Shoikh
Esa’a momorial ouding with Foreign Department tologram No. 830-E.13.
dated 22nd Fobruary 190G.
2. I am submitting simultaneously, undor this offico No. 74 of 25th Feb­
ruary 190G, n summary of what passed at a rccout iutorviow botwocn myself
and tho Shoikh, and would ask that it may be gonorally rognrdod as tho
fullor roport oontomplatcd in paragraph 4 of my lettor No. 27 of 21st'Jamiary
1906; but would add boro a fow words of Anal comment on tho momorial in
question.
.3. Of tho 9 itoms of complaint represented, or in somo cases misrepre­
sented in tho dooument.—
Item (1).—Regarding tho Arms prohibition, is now proferrod for tho
first time, aud has beon disoussed with tho Sheikh at my rcoent
interview, to the summary of whioh I would invito roforonoo.
Item (8).—The alleged demolition of tho Sheikh’s Flagstaff, is an entire
misunderstanding on tho part of tho Shoikh and has beon
repoatodly explained to him; and it will bo scon that, subject
to tho oonourronco of Government and his amenability, I have
expressed my readiness to adjust tho matter to his'satisfaction.
Itoms (2) to (7) of protest or complaiut, arc all foaturos of proceedings
taken by us iu rogar.d to Babroin whioh have passod into history
and soom to call for no comment from mo or reply to Shoikh Esa.
As regards item (9), the non-receipt of replies to his representations,
Shoikh Esa’s lettor of 30th May 1905 to tho Political Agont,
Bahrein, and now roforred to in tho lattor’s lottor No. 24 of 13th
January lost, was fully replied to, as far as I was in a position to
do so, in my long lottor addrossod to tho Sheikh in Memorandum
form on 7th Juno, which was carefully communioatcd to him by
tho Political Agont at a personal interview arranged for tho
purposo.
In this oonneotion it would seem that the only form of communication
whioh in Shoikh Esa’s viow would constitute that suitablo and
adoquato response to his requests whioh has hithorto boon doniod
him, would bo ono in whioh tho Government of India intimated .
to him that they wore sorry for tho notion whioh they had taken \
at Bahreiu last year; that thoy saw that tho prosonoo of a British \
officer was not necessary ond would romove him; and that iu •'
future as long as tho Sheikhs of Bahrein did not aotivoly oppross j
British subjects, thoy would bo left to carry on tho admiuistro- •
tion or mol-administration of Manama as best pleased thorn. :
If it is not this, it is not easy to seo what spooial roply it is that
tho 8hoikh wants. i
V
4. I may romark in conclusion that Shoikh Esa’s roforenoo to tho Customs
question in his lottor of 30th May abovo referred to, could hardly have boon
meant, or properly bo takon, as serious. It was simply a suggestion that
Government should, without any quid pro quo or compensating advantago
whatever, pay off all his dobts to tho banians and lot him conduot’ tho Customs
through tho medium of Bahroin Arab and Soodi rotainors solcotod by himsolf.
I did. not desoribo tho proposal so baldly, in roplying to Shoikh Esa, as I was
glad oven of this openiug, as emanating from 8heikh Esa himsolf, for tho
discussion of the Customs question.
It will bo seen, however, from the roport of my intorviow with him on tho
14th instant that ho has no intention of adopting our advico in any serious or
reasonable way whatovor.
Q. 1.0. P. O.-Np. 6968 F. D.—21.3.1000-67—B. S. W.