Page 311 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 301

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No. 74-, dated Buebiro, tbo 25th Fobnmry (received 13th March) 1906 (Confidential).
From—Majoh P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political lloeidont in the Porainn Gulf,
'X’o—Tho Secretary to tbo Govornmont of India in tbo Foroign Department,
I havo tbo honour to rofer to tbo Soorotary of Stato’s despatch No. 34-
(Socrot), dated 10th Novomhor 1905, on tho subject of our policy at J3ahroin,
forwarded to mo uudor Foroign Departmout ondorsemout No. 43G3-E.B. of
30th idom.
2. In that dospatch His Majesty’s Govornmont while not dooming it
convenient at present to dofino in prociso torms tho position of tho Shoikh of
Bahrein towards tho Protecting Power, wont on to authoriso tho Government
of India to instruot tho Political Authorities in tho Persian Gulf to prococd
ns proposed in paragraph G of tho draft which formed Appondix A of lettor
No. 178, (Seorot,) dated 14th Septoraber 1900, from tho Govornmont of India
to tho.Soorotary of State.
In tho paragraph reforred to tho Govornmont of India pronouuocd tho
view that tho ono quostion on which thoy folt compelled to offor authoritativo
advico was that of Customs reform, and suggested that tho best courso in tho
first inslauco might bo for mo to have a frank explanation with tho Chief on
tho subject.
That explanation I havo now had, and it will bo seon from the accom­
panying memorandum of what passod at a long intorviow botweon mysolf,
tho Political Agent, Bahroin, and Shoikh Ean, on tho 14th instant, that tho
lattor lias onoo more refused altogether to nccopt tho advico of tho Govorn­
mont of India in this rospect, iu any form whatever.
3. For spoaking plainly to tho Shoikh in a friondly way I could hardly
havo had a raoro favourable opportunity than that which I havo just used.
I had invited him iu tho first plaoo to opon his mind and express himself
freely to mo and had assured him of my dosiro to liolp him whero possible.
In rogard to all fivo topics, montion of whioh had precoded that of the Customs
question, I had lont a pationt and sympathetic oar aud had promised to
ropresont his wishos or circumstances forthwith, and favourably, to tho Gov­
ernment of India. Ono might reasonably havo oxpoctcd that this would havo
paved tho way for a 6onsiblo exohango of viows at all ovonta, and an explana­
tion of 8omo.of tho reasons whioh rnnko tho reformation of Shoikh Esa’a
Customs so unpalatable to him. On tho_contrary ho was as dogged and
Unbending os ho oould well bo, muoli or ho“wasi8stryear“wiien 1 Erst ondoa-
voatecH6',porsuado him to do justice to tho injured Porsians— an attitudo I
would romark whioh ho ohangod altogothor two months lator when ho at
length roalisod that wo intondod to enforoo our domands. Ho would givo no
roasons ; ho practically would not discuss tho question, excopt to keep repenting
that ho had givou his answer sovcral times boforo and that it was tho samo
now.
4. I do not think I noed say muoh of tho past history of. our negotiations
in oonnootion with tho Bahrein. Customs, for tho Govornmont of India aro
already familiar with it. It was fully gono into in thoir Despatch No. 85, dated
21st April 1904, to His Mujosty’a Secretary of Stato, on the subjeot of our
Political Itwld.nt in tb« ?«i.Uq Quit to th, "P^otatioa at Bahrein. Since then
8«or«ury to tbo Gommnent 0f Indio in tho ohttikli Esa has onco been formally
^oreiKnDePMlm«t. No. 423. doted 7th Dooom. approach od' by tho Political Agent;
#r. > further, the subjeot was puintodly alluded
to in tho Ultimatum presented to him last year, and I havo now exhaustively
pressod it upon him.
, In the rooord shows that sinoo tho boginning of 1898 Shoikh Esn lias
been authoritatiyoly approaohod no less than 9 times in all, by throo Rosidonta
and ono Viceroy in person; and I am drivon unwillingly to tho conclusion that
thero now romains no roasonablo hopo that iu this pnrtioular matter Shoikh
Laa will ovor respond to our friondly advico, and that it would bo humiliating
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