Page 319 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 309

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" which you had spontaneously issued in Jnnunry 1S9G, forbidding tho snlo of
*• arms tiiid nmmunition to your auhjoota. In viow of those fnols, tho Qoyem-
“ moot of India nro unablo to understand on what grounds you now roprcaont
“ that you wero forced by British representatives to intordiot. .th« 8alo of arms.
“ Purlhor you nro well awaro that tiio Shoikh of ICoweit and tho Shoikbs of
" ^1,0 'J'rucial Coast have similarly probihilod tho.lrafUo in arms in tlioir torri-
Vtorics, and your atntemont that you aro deprived of an advantago onjoyod by
'•'all the Arab Chiefs along tho Arabian Coast is tlieroforo incorrect, Einnlly
" I am to reuiiud you that tho pcoplo of Bahrein in gonoral have no nood for
“moro arms than thoy possoss, nnd that it is always opon to you to procure tho
41 consent of tho Government of India to import whatovor urms you may
“yourself need for speoial roasons. It is to your own interest; that tho
“importation.of arms shoyld.ho restricted, but apart from this tho Government
41 of-Iudimwould not onusidor’ for a moment tho possibility of oancolling or
4* modifying tho agreement into which you havo ontorod, siuco it is ossontial
44 for tho preservation of the -public poaco that tho traflio iu arms along tho
*' Arabian Coast should bo rigidly confinod and limitod.
44 In tho sooond placo you complain that an English ropresontativo has
"boon substituted for tho formor Mussulman ropresontntivo of tho British Gov-
'.‘vorhmedt.in your Statb'nml that, ns a consoquonce of his interforouco in tho
44 intornal administration of tho stato, you wero forced to orrost your rclativo
“f" ‘!>li Ali nnd surrender him to tho British authorities for an imaginary
44 oliouco. In roply to.this, I am to remind you that tho political and commercial
*“ couditions in Uanroin havo considerably a Herod of roceiit years nnd that in
“ consoquniico it has'hccomo nccossary for .the Govorninont of India to hnvo a
44 moro olficient. representative, on whoso advice you can moro conlidontly roly,
44 It is also well known to'you that tho great inoronso of trndo onjoyod by tho
merchants iof Bahrein is -largely duo to tha prosouoo of a British offioor in
“your island,- .
44 With regard to tho easo of Shoikh Ali, your nophow, you know that
“ ho was punished,-beoftuso.ho robcllod against your ordors and sot at naught tho
'•* commands of tho British Government. I have already addros9od you on this
“ subject iu my lotter dated Juno 7th, 1905, and it is not nocossary for mo to'say
^'anything mord with rogard to tho matter boro.
'• *•14 Next’ 'jrou ropresont that your flag mast was thrown down by tho
Knrif'iiue to ictvcr from the roiitiai nnid«oii No. ** British authorities. Tho OoYoriimont
86‘j, dete nu. June looc.- of India cannot boliovo that you nrd
•' aetdated by' sovious motives in proforring this oomplaint nftor tho Political
** Agonfc has given you a personal assurance, whioh you havo accept od, to th6
•'■'tiffcot that tho flagstaff was not lowered,'hut was blown down in a hoavy galo.
•• u *«l?itjallyfl tho Government of Iudia oro unable to undorstaud your nlloga-
tfolv that1 ’you ' reqeivo no reply to the ropresentatioos whioh .you profor.
" 1,'who'arh tho’roprosontativb of tho Qovornmont of India in tho Persian Gulf,
“havo writton to you in( reply to your complaints explaining tho policy of tliq
44 Govdrnmbht1 of'India aiid* advising you for your good, while your Politioal
V Agbhfci'Captain Prldoaux, has oonstautly listened to your grievances and nssisto«|
“ you with liis counsels. In' this connection I am to remind you that it is tho
44 duty-of 'British teprosontatives to oommunicato fully to Government tho cir:
44 oumshmoes'and'wishes of Chiefs to whom tlioy aro accroditcd, and that in viow
“of this fuofc tho Government of India can only considoryour communibntions
“ when recoivod ’ through tho' resppusiblo oflicors with whom you nro in touch.
44 It was thorofo'ro both unnocossary nnd inoorroct for you.to forward a copy of
44 your petition to tho Socrotary oJE Statofor India through tho medium of n
oommoroiol firm.”
I.hnvo llio honour to ho,
Sir,
Your most' obediont servant,
B is. HOLLAND,
Assistant Scoretary to tho Government of India,
0. 0. Fmi, flloli.-No. !C4f. D.-28-I Oe.-.65-D. D. 0.