Page 83 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 73

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4. Statement of Aga Molmmed Rahim Saffar with oight enclosures.
6. Ditto of Mohamod Kholcol.
6. Lottor from Chiof of 13ahrdin, to Reaidonoy Agent, datod 21st January 1800.
7. Lottor from First Assistant Hcsidont, to llcaidonoy Agont, Bahroin, Ho. 081, datod
2*>th Octobor 1897,
8. Hesidouoy Agent's roply to nbovo.
9. Lottor from Messrs. Fraois Timos &Co., to Captain Ducat, First Assistant Resident,
datod hth July 1890, with offioo note and orders theroon.
10. First Assistant Resident’s roply to abovo.
11. Examination of-Mr. J. C. Qankiu.
12. Ditto of Mr. J. P. Sequoira.
13. Telegram from Li*-utonant Pridcnux, First Assistant Resident, to Resident, Persian
liulf, datod 28th January 1898.
14. Letter from Residout, to Chief of Bahrein, datod oth Fobruary 1808.
10. Ditto ’ ditto, Residonoy Agont, Bahroin, dated Oth February 1898.
10. Memorandum by Political Resident on disposal of Mr. Fracis Times' arms, dated 7th
February 1898,
17. Letter from tho Chief of Bahrein, to Resident, dated 19th February 1898,
18. Ditto Residenoy Agent, Bahrein, to Residont, dated 23rd February 1898.
19. Ditto Messrs. Fracis Timos & Co., to First Assistant Resideut, dated 12th
Ootobor 1398.
20. First Assistant Resident's reply to nbove, No. 786, dated 20th November 1898.
21. Copy and translation of the concession granted by tho Chiof of Bahrein for tho
importation of arms iu 1890.

Dated Bushire, the 29th April 1898.
From—Mesbbb. Fiucis Times & Co.,
To—Colonel M. J. Mbadb, Political ltcsidout and Consul-General in tho Persian
Gulf.
In roply to your memorandum, dated 6th Fobruary last, and your letter
No. 265, dated 24th instant, in reply to ours of tho 18th idem, regarding tho
seizure of our arms and ammunition at 13nhreiu, wo beg to hand you herewith a
certified copy (Enclosure I), together with a translation, of the concession, in
virtue of which we have been importing arms and ammunition there. This
concession was originally grantod to tho Sheikh’s Vnzior, who, not being in a
position to work it himself, transferred his rights theroin to Agha Mohamod
llahim Saffar, and the latter sold thorn to our Firm. Enclosed herewith please
also find a certified copy (Enclosure II), together with its translation, of tho
contraot botwcon Agha Molmmed Rahim Saffnr and tho Sheikh’s Vazier,
showing the consideration given by tho formor to tho latter for transferring the
concession on his n&mo.
We gather from your memorandum and tho lotter above reforred to that
our arms have been seizod by tho Slioikh, acting on his own responsibility and
without a provious reference to tho Residency, on the plea that he had stipulated
in tho concession that it could bo withdrawn at any timo, and that threo months
ago our Mr. Fraois was asked to return tho documents, but he did not do 60.
This is the first time wo learn that u tho Sheikh stipulated iu tho concession
that it oould bo withdrawn at any timo. ” We admit that tho Agent asked us
to return the concession, and this not onco but several times previous to it, but
wo bavo always replied to him that the concession was a contract, and that if
any attempt was mado to break it, we would hold him and tho Sheikh jointly
and severally responsible for its breach. Wo know that tho Agent was trying
tmentr°ri1.nt° arran8?mon^ with othor Firms, and was, therefore, anxious to got
rid of his connection with us. In ono cose ho evon went to tho length of
threatening us in tho Shoikh’s namo that, if wo over .duro to bIiow the terms of
Ins concession to us to ouyono else, ho will break tho concession, and every
time ho tnod to threaton aud intimidate us we had given him to understand
that neither he nor the Shoikh oan do this with impuuity, so long as thero was
law iu tho land. I hero has boon no question hitherto about the terms of the