Page 85 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 75

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tbo Rosidoncy Agent told him that ho had receivod cortain hints (which ho
could not divulge) through Mr. Mohamcd Ismail, tho Bahrein Agent of tho
British India Steam Navigation Company, who had boon to Bush ire (on tho 8th
Bcccmbcr last and left on the 11th idom) and had an interviow with the Rosi-
dont at Subzabad. Tho Residency Agent oxprossed his apprehension that the
arms and ammunition would bo soizod by tho ResidoDoy, and offered to dispose
of thorn immediately boforo any such action was taken, but as our Mr. Fracis
saw that tho Agont was trying to tako advautago of tho position of affairs in
order to buy tho guns for himself at about half the price, ho absolutely declined
to ngreo to his torms, and told him that ho would demand his rights under tho
concession if tho ltcsidonoy seized tho guns. Shortly aftor this tho Shoikh
placed his locks on the godowns, and on enquiry we learnt that ho did so under
direction of the Hesidency Agent. You arrivod in Bahrein on tho 4th February
last, and on tho following day, after a long interviow with tho Sheikh, at the
Residency Agency, directed our Mr. Fracis to hand over our keys of tho
godowns to tho Sheikh’s Ameer or Bazar Master, and give dolivory to your
personal Rosidoncy Clerk, Mr. William Hayward. Our Mr. Fraois believing that
Govornmont only intonded to talco chargo of tho arms pending the termination
of the Afridi Campaign, loyally complied with this order, but under protest,
requesting at tho samo timo to placo tho Residency seals on tho godowns by
which this object would bo served, as disturbing tho goods by oponing and
removing them was likely to injure. You insisted on tho goods being delivered
to your clork, Mr. Hayward, who had taken delivery of 438 arms of different
kiuds in his own chargo, but, on your return from Hor Majesty’s Ship Law*
rence at about 4 F.M., you countermanded tho order for taking further delive­
ries, presumably a9 it was found that it would take too long to count ovory
article. You thon directed tho Sheikh to keep the guns in his chargo and give
us a receipt for them. It is inconceivable that the Sheikh, a vassal of tho
British Government, would daro to scizo British goods on his own responsibility,
no matter what plea ho may have.
Tho Rosidcncy cannot say that tho particulars of tho transaction connected
with our briuging arms to Bahrein arc not known to it, nor that it is unac*
quainted with the torms of tho concession granted by tho Sheikh to his Yazicr.
Aftor a careful consideration of all tho oircumstancos of tho enso, wo regrot
wo are forced to tho conclusion that the original source of the action, which led
to the seizure of our arms and ammunition, is the British Government, and in
these oircumstancos we have no option but to look to it primarily for compen­
sation for tho losses and injury suffered by us, nud it is immaterial to us whother
its holds tho Shoikh responsible in the matter or not.
Tho arbitrary seizure of our arras and ammunition 1ms seriously damaged
tho credit of our Firm, and the loss of tho concession, which had acquired an
enhanced value owing to tho closing of the Bushire and otkor Persian Gulf
markets and tho restrictions imposod at Muscat, has involvod us in heavy
liabilities to the manufacturers for orders already in oourso of oxcoution and
thoso booked in advanoo and now in their bauds.
Wo accordingly claim £15,000 for tho valuo of tho goods seized plus
intorest at tho rato of 12 per cent, por annum from tho dato of soizuro to tho
datoof paymont. Tho amount for compensation for tho loss of tho concession
tho damage done to our credit, loss of profit, and damages payablo to manu­
facturers in connection with ordors iu course of oxccution, oto., at tho date of
soizuro of tho arms, will bo communicated to you on recoipt of eamo from our
London Firm, who will roquiro sorno time to ostimate thorn.
With regard to tho roraoval of arms from our godowns, we beg to stato
that in August last Mr. Dlmrwar, tho junior partnor in tho Firm, went to
Bahrein aud got an iuvontory mado of all tho arms thon in chargo of tho-
Agent (as por Enclosure VII). Subsequent to this wo sent five moro oases

the above enclosure, but ho is holding book from us details of tho quantity and
description of tho alma 8old. 80 that, until thoso dotails arc furnished hv 1dm it
is impossible for us to stato what guns should bo in tho godowns and what are
254 D.