Page 93 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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British interests and influence, 1898-1904

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Dated Bu6liiro, tlio 29th April 1898.
From—Mrbbrb. Fiucib Times & Co.,
To—Colonel M. J. Mbadk, Political Uoeidont and Consul-General in tlio Poraian
Gulf.
In continuation of our letter of oven date re the seizure of our arms in
Bahrein, at foot wo beg to give extract from our London firm’s letter of lotli
ultimo with reference to tlio robbery :—
11 Wo observe that you have dolivored 127 cases Martini Henry cartridges,
but the inventory taken by Mr. Dharwar in August last shows three lots of
Martini cartridges:—
66 cases
57
32
165 oases in all,

so tlicro is a groat deficiency.’*

Dated Bush ire, the 3rd September 1898.
From—Mbsbiib. Fraoib Times & Co.,
To—Colonkl M. J. Mbade, Political Resident and Consul-General in t.ho Porsian
•Gulf.
We have the honour to own receipt of your lettor No. 311, dated 9th May
last (which was deliverod to us on the 30th idem), enclosing copies of letters
from tho Sheikh of Bahrein, and the Residency Agent, on the subject of the
seizure of our arms and ammunition at Bahrein.
Wo havo rccoivod the enclosures with much nmusoment and no little sur­
prise,—amusement at the vain attempt made to dofond a proceeding which admits
of no defence, and surprise that Her Majesty’s Consulate should readily endorse
such absurd explanations without examining their merits, and entirely ignore
tho arguments contained in our lettor of 29th April last, and the cvidenco of tho
dooumontR forwarded therewith. In that letter wo stated that, in roply to our en­
quiry at tho time, tho Sheikh declared that ho had seized our arms wider direc­
tion of tho British Residency Agent. Wo italicised these words in order to draw
your particular attention to them, and wo expected that you would question the
Sheikh and the Agent on this all important point, but you have apparently not
done so, as your lettor under reply makes no allusion to it, and your silonco about
the matter can only lead us to think it was not convenient, in tho interests of
Her Majesty’s Government, to make any such inquiry. Wo now have the
pleasure to oncloso a certified copy and a translation of the Sheikh’s letter to
us on tho subject, which we trust will now bring into full reliof tho discredi­
table manner in which it is sought to justify tho seizuro of.our arms. At first
the plea was that it was opon to the Sheikh, under tho terms of tho convention,
to withdraw it at any time. This plea evidently not boing stroug enough, it is
now sought to add another, viz.:—tho arms woro being sold to “ my enemies
both present and absent,” and that there was a large stock of arms in Bahroin
" to which I had a right”. Her Majesty’s Consulate apparently does not
considor it convenient to enquire, xoho was tho party who was selliug arms to
'* my onomios both prosont and absont,” under what particulr clause of the
concession tho Shoikh basos his " right to tho largo stock of arms in Bahrein,”
which had boon imported under tho sanction of his concession, and on wuioli
ho had lcviod tho stipulated duty, and, abovo all, under what article of tho
Treaty with tho Bahroin State does ho justify his action in violating tho laws
of Extra-Territoriality, governing the porsons and properties of British subjects
trading in thoso parts, “without a provious roforenco to tho Residencv ”
Having rogard to tho fact that Her Majesty’s Govornmont had suddenly decided
as a rosult of tho Afridi Campaign, to put down tho arms traffic in tho Gulf*
and tlio extraordinary real displayed by Bvilial, authority in Bushiro and at
Muscat m carrying out tho aims of Government, without minding id what
254 F. D.