Page 71 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

61
British interests and influence, 1898-1904

[Demi-oppioiam.]
Dated Busliirc, tlio 2nd October 1607 (Coefldcnt'ml).
From—IjIbutbnamt«CoI/OMKI. M. J. Mbadb,
To—Sill WiLUAU COHIEOIIAU, K.C.S.l.
When I took over ohnrgo of tho Residency from Colonel Wilson, bo told mo that Bahroin
nffairo were uot altogothor in a satisfactory elate, and that tlio Sheikh was boing badly ndvised
by thoBO who wishod to extend Turkish influence along the Arab Coast, Since then thcro have
Agent at Bahrein of obstruction put in tlio way. of
our
beou iuccBBant compluints mado by —“ A A ’
busiuesa by tlio Chief's people, and of ... whero ho could not got justico for British subjects.
cases
..
On the other hand, thoro were complaints against our Agent, and lost month a numoor or
British Indian native traders came hero and formally accused him of having taken advantage
of his position in various ways. 1 gathered that .the chief grounds of complaint against
of his position in various ways.
Apa Muhammad Hahiin, our Agent., aro that lie is also a big trader, and uses his position ns
BrilTslf'Agent to ndvuneo' his interests in his private capacity. A firm of Hindu traders
farming tho customs of Bahrein from tlio Sheikh, and they said that. Muhnmmad Rahim
aro
would only givo 3% ad valorem on the goods lie imported, and that lie had extended this
privilege to certain firms, Ifiuropean and Native, with which lie is interested, thereby causing
loss to the customs for which tho complninauts had taken n contract for a fixed sum. Muham­
mad ltaliim was here at the time, and I conlrouled him with the complainants. He practically
admitted the correctness of what they said, but urged that tho right to get his goods in at
3%, iustead of paying 4j ns.olhcr merchants do, was specially given to him by the Sheikh,
who had empowered him to extend the privilege to anyouc ho wishod, in cousoqueuce of J
which ho hnd bccomoJ.lj.9..AK.cilt <_»f Messrs. Fracis & Co., au English firm, and was connected'*
with a NalTvo iTrm trndiug to Bahrein.'....It is "clear that Muhammad ltaliim is uot only our
Agent but is also ono of the largest merchants in tho Island whero, as well as here, ho owns
cons idornblo propor.ty, the British Agonl’s houso belonging to him, nnd I am afraid ho moroly
regards his position of our Agont ns a oonvcnionco in tho ndvancemout of his private interoste.
Ho only goto Its. 100 a month from Government, and everything points to a far largor in-
como from other sources. There wero several other complaints against him by British traders,
chiofly to tho cffcot that, for reasons of his owu, ho would not, iu particular eases, support
thorn proporly, and tliorc was ono important complaint to the effect that wheu a certain Said
IlnlaE went bankrupt, Muhammad Uahira, just boforo tho bankruptcy was givon out, went at t
night and mndo tho man hand ovor scvoral thousaud rupees worth of jewols iu paymout j
of a heavy doht to himself, thus defrauding tho other creditors.
I was considering what stops I should tnkc to onquiro into these complaints, wlioti a
letter came from Muhammad Rahim's nophow and 6on-in-law, who was carrying on the Agont's
duties during his absence, to tho cffcot that tho mau, Said Ilalaf, I liavo mentioned before, had
been arrested by the Sheikh and had attempted to tako refugo in the British Agont’s houso,
from which ho had boon removed forcibly by tho sorvants of tho Sheikh. I at once wrote
to tlio Sheikii, mid nvkcd for au immediate explanation. IIo denied that Said Ilalaf hnd
boon arrested in the houso, and to elenr matters up I cent Pridcaux and Gaskin to Bahroin
d fortnight ago. Pridoaux ns 1st Assistaut carries moro weight t.lian Gaskin, while the latter
hns a special knowledge of Bahrein affairs, nnd also knows Arnbio very well. They stayed
thore fivc*dnys, and mo about to put up a full report on tlio result of their cnqnirios, which
will, I hope, givo mo moro nccurato information than 1 liavo at presont. I will of course
report later on to Government, but would suggest ihab I mny ho allowed to defer doing so
till I liavo vifited tho place myself, wliioli I hope I may do noxt month when the Latorcnce
returns from Bombay. The following points appear to mo to ho pretty cloar.
Our Agent’s position at Bahroin is uot a propor or satisfactory one. Ho is, or ought
to ho, tho supporter of tho interests of British traders, nud should be un arbiter in their
disputes. But, from the fact that ho is largely interested in trndo himself, lie is not really
compotont to bo as useful as ho should ho, uud has I fear taken advnutugo of his position
as tho British ropresentativo nt Bahrein. IIo is not a. persona grata to t ho Chief, or popular
with tho British tradors. IIo is nn old man, nnd you have recently asked if tho term
of oxtondod office, which ho got 18 months ngo, should bo again extendod. For theso reasons
I am inclined to think that ho had hotter ho told to retire, uulcss tho investigation
shows ho has hcon criminally guilty, when furthur stops may bo ncoossnry. If this is
douo, howover, it may ho difficult to roplaco him. Wo could of courso send ouc of our
clorks from this who would bo glad to get tho iuoreaso of pay j but ho would onlv bo a uowa-
writor, and could not bo oxpeotod to koop up tho position Muhammad Rahim does. IIo
undoubtedly has a considcrnblo standing in Bahroin. Thoro is of courso no chanco of * Gov-
orumout increasing tho pay of tho post, and if Muhammad Rahim is removed (uuless wo allow
b,B l\°Pll0W aad eon-in-law to succeed, which I hear is his wish), wo muni ho prepared to have
mcroly a nows-writer at the place, and thorohy lose much of our influence. Jt occurred to
mo, l'owovor.tliaUhofauda to proy.don really cllioiont Agont tlioro might bo foxllicmuintr
f WO could induco tho Shoikh to ask us to mnnngo his customs. Tho trado of tho place lma