Page 96 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

86 Records of Bahrain

20
Aa to your remarks that our dealings with tho Shoikh and tho Rosidoncy
Agout have boon oarried on entirely on our own responsibility, and Ivithout
tbo knowledge of British Authorities, wo aro not aware that there aro any rules
and regulations requiring British merchants to carry on such dealings only
on tho responsibility of British Authorities, and with thoir knowledge; but lot
ussoo: tho concession was obtained by us from tho reprosentativo of tho
British Government at Bahrein, and not from the Shoikh direct, so that in
reality wo have unknowingly oboyed tho law now revealed to us, which fact, wo
fear, dostroys the force of your argument on this point.
"We have never asked you to address tho Shoikh and ask him to rolcaso
our goods. The mcro rolcaso of our goods will not compensate us for all tho
losses indicted on us. Tho careless and off-hand maunor in which tho goods
wero handled in their removal, in spito of our protests, must havo rondered tho
best part of tho satno unQt for salo.
As to your throat about confiscation, you aro of course at perfect liborty to
oomo to any decision you may please on this point, and it is a matter of
indifference to us as to what rocommondations you send to Government. Aa
circumstances stand, you will see that wo cannot do otherwise than hold the
Government responsible for the arbitrary action of thoir representatives, and
wo hope to mako good our claim in a Court of Law in duo course.
In vain wo look in your letter for a singlo indication of a desire on your
part to oxamino tho morits of our case with an impartial oyo ; from beginning
to end it is an attompt to justify tho oruol wrong dono to us by seiziug an
idlo protoxt or adventitious circumstanco which may possibly supply a handlo
\ j for an argument against us ; and yet you would havo us to apply to you for
\/ British protection against tho action of tho Sheikh 1
/\ In our letter of 29th April last wo gave you particulars of tho theft of
{ our arms at Bahrein, in accordanco with the instructions contained in your
memorandum of 5th [February 1898, but wo find that you pass this matter over
in silenoe. Wo suppose that tho nocessity for any enquiry into this matter
ia now dono away with, with tho confiscation of the remaining arms.

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Certified that the foregoing is a true and faithful copy of tho original pro­
duced before mo at tho British Consulate-General at Bushire, this thirty-first
day of August, ono thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight.

. J. OALCOT GA8KIN,
British Vioc^Consul, Buahiro.

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Consult!? service!