Page 51 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 41

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No. 7, dated Bushiro/lhc 23rd February 1898.
From—Lieutenamt-Colonel M. J. Meade, Officiating Political Itesidont, Persian
Oulf,
To—Tho Secretary to tho Government of India, Foreign Department.
In .continuation of my telegram, dated tho 9th February 1898, I havo
tho honour to report, for tho information of the Government of India, that I
arrived at Bahrain on tho morning of the 4th instant, and in tho afternoon
Shaikh Esa-biu-Ali, Chief of Bahrain, accompanied by his four sons paid mo a
visit on board tho R.I.M.S. "Lawrence.” Tho next day I wont ashoro to
return his visit. This, as lias been the practice, took place at our Agoncy.
2. During this interview I took tho opportunity of informing tho Chief
of the desire of tho Government of India to prohibit traffic in arms, and I
succeeded in getting him to sign a similar agreement to that issued by tho
Sultan of Maskat, copies of which are attached.
3. On my arrival at Bahrain, I found that tho Shaikh, without any
previous rcfcrcnco to tho Residency, had impounded a quantity of arms and
ammunition belonging to Messrs. Fracis, Times & Co. Against this tho firm
has protested. I am enquiring iuto tho matter, and will report tho result
later on for tho orders of tho Government of India.

Translation of Proclamation.
Bo it known to all who soo this that wo have given permission to British
and Persian vessels of war to search vessels carrying their and our flags in our
territorial waters, and to confiscate all arms and ammunition (weapons of war)
in them if those arms and ammunition arc intended for India and Persian
and Maskat ports and if they aro tho property of British, Persian, Maskat or
Bahrain subjects.
Wo havo also given permission to those vessels of war to search Bahrain
vessels in Indian and Persian waters suspected to coutain arms and ammunition
for Indian and Persian ports and to confiscato tho said arms and ammunition.
The 13th Bamzan 1315 (Sd.) Shaikh Esa-bin-Ali Al KnALiFAn,
(=Gth February 1898). } Chief of Bahrain.

Translation of Notification.
Bo it known to such of our subjocts who seo this that, whereas tho British
and Persian Govornmonts havo reprosonted to us that thoy aro dosirous of
preventing introduction of arms and ammunition into India and Persia, and
that thorn is reason to think that many arms and mucli ammunition aro
exported from Bahrain aud taken to thoso two above-named countries, we
have resolved to join them aud to assist thorn as far ns it lies in our power in
suppressing this trade in arms and ammunition between Bahrain, India and
Persia. Wo therefor© warn our subjects that all tho arms and ammunition
sent to thoso two countries will bo confiscated, aud thoso ougngod in this trndo
will bo punished, as tho introduction of arms and ammunition into India
Persia and Bahrain is prohibited by tho Governments of thoso two countries
and therefore illegal.
In futuro our Bahrain flag will bo no protection to vessels carrying tho
snid arms and ammunition from our dominions to Iudia and Persia and
Muskat.
The 13th Bamzan 1315 (Sd.) Esa-bin-Ali Al Khalifaii,
(=GM February 1898). ] Chief of Bahrain,
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