Page 77 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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67
British interests and influence, 1898-1904

No. 09, dated Bushire, tho Hist Novembor 1898 (Confidential).
From—Libotbnant-Colonrl M. J. Mrade, Politioal Resident in tho Persian
Gulf,
To-*-Tho Seorotary to tho Govornmcrit of India, Foreign Department.
I havo tho honour to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter No. 1245-E.A.,
dated tho let September 1898, forwarding a despatch, “ Secret,” No. 20, dated
tho 12th August 1898, from the Sccrotary of Stato for India, to tlie Govern­
ment of India, regarding tho Arms Traffic to tho Persian Gulf.
2. I havo embodied a report I have prepared in accordance with your
directions in tho form of a memorandum, a copy of which, together with enclo­ I
sures, accompanies this letter for tho information of the Government of India.
It will ho soon that I havo only dealt in it with tho attachment of arms at I
Bahrein, and 1 proposo reporting again on tho other seizures aftor hearing from
tho Political Agont, Muscat. ;•
8. I was in the interior of Persia wheu your letter under reply reached
mo, and was obligod to dofor tho completion of my onquirios into tho Bahrein
arms quostion till my roturn to Bushiro. As this has caused somo delay, I
havo tolographod * to Hor Majesty’s
• Copy attached; iont in ojpbor.
•Principal Secretary of State for India to
ask if ho would wish a copy of this report and enclosures sont direct, and pro­
pose Bonding thorn to him if ho wishes mo to do 60. 1

Telegram,'dated'thc l8tli Novembor 1898.
■•
From—Tho Resident, Poreian Gulf,
To—Hor Majesty’s Seorotary of Stato for India, London.
Your Lordship’s despatch “Secret,” No. 20 of 12th August. Shall I sond)
a copy of my report going to tho Govornmont of India diroct to you ?

Roport on tho attaohmont of Anus nt Bahrein in January 1898.
The claims of Mossrs. Fraois Times
e Apcl1 1808 *tw0 Icll#r*) *od 8rd aro set forth in their letters noted on
BeptAmbor loBo.
margin.
2. Tho Firm assort that thoy havo a oaso against tho British Government,
as tho Shoikh was really acting under tho direction of tho British authorities.
3. To cloarly understand tho position of affairs at Bahrein, in connection
with tho concession granted by tho Sheikh, and its withdrawal, as woll as tho
attaohment-of tho stores of arms and ammunition at that place, I would, in tho
•first place, invito a porusal of the accompanying letters and statements, a list
of which is'attaohod.
4s. From thoso. as woll as from previous corrospondonco betwoen tho Gov­
Narrative of recent event* at Bahrein which led ernment of India and tlio Bcsident in tho
to the concession for Importation of arms granted bx Porsiau Gulf, it will bo seon that, in 1895,
the Sbelkb.
thcro was muoli danger to Shoikh Esa
and Ins subjects, as well as to tho numerous British-Indian subjects and pro-
t6g6a at Bahrein, from an attack which was contcmplatod by Shoikh Jasim-bin-
Thani, whoso lioad-quartors woro on the neighbouring Arab Coast Tho
troubles were onded by tho destruction at Zobarn, by Hor Majesty’s gunboats
tho Sphinx and[ Pigeon, of a numbor of buggalows, which wero .to ’havo boon
omployod in attacking Bahrom, which was undoubtedly saved from a hostile
invasion by tho intervention of tho British. °
•5. Iam told that at that timo tlioro woro not 100 rifles in Bahroin, and
Small numbor of arms la Dabrolo In ItiOS. aftor tho inoidont was ovor, tho Shoikh*
apparently,-wished to got-somo for hie
own protection.
264 F. D.