Page 99 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 89
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I never reported to tbo Rosidont that I was acting ns Mr. Fraci9* Agent
and soiling arms for him. I think, liowevor, that Colonel Wilson knew about
it, and that Mr. Ducat know. Mr. Gaskin and Mr. Soquoira woro awaro of it»
I liavo not yet brought a rogular suit in tho Consular Courts against Mr. Fracia
ad I understood that our dispute lying at Bahrein would have to bo settled by
an Ijlas at Bushire undor tho supervision of tho Residency. I want tho
dispute about tho premises of Livingstone Muir settled by tho Residency. I
also told you about a ponding case at Busrah iu which Messrs. Fracia Times
and I aro concerned. X sold tho Firm property for Rs. 80,000, and they havo
nover paid mo. 1 hoar that they havo now been given possession of tho date
gardons by tho Turkish Courts, as tho case was settled ex parte in my
absence. I waut this matter also taken up by tbo Residency. I know that
it was pending in tho Turkish Courts, and nskod for a postponement; but I
hoar it was not allowed. My object in asking for a postponement was to
consult you. It is cot true that I asked tho Shoikh of Bahrein to attach
Fracis Times’ arms at Bahroin, as a set off to tho action of the Firm iu
regard to my property at Busrch.
I can give oxact accounts of all tho sales at Bahrein, both those mado by
mo and those by Fracis’ own man. Tho mortgago of my house (that occupied
by Messrs. Livingstone Muir) has nothing to do with tho arms accounts at
Bahrein. It is a distinct transaction.
All that I havo stated above is true, so help mo God.
(Sd.) * Y* lUaa^.
Signature of Agha Mohamed Rahim.
Before me.
M. J. MEADE,
Political Llcaident, Persian Oulf,
The 11th November 1898.

Recalled on the 13th November 1898.
Q. When you received tho concession from tho Vazior did you on tor into
formal written agreement, and was any moution mado as to its tormiuation ?
A. Yes, there wa9 a writton agreemont by which I promised to give so
many free arms and rounds of ammunition to the Yazicr. Tho number of guns,
etc., to bo given to tho Sheikh aro mentioned in the concession itself. Tho
promise to tho Yazior was mado on a separate pieoo of papor to that on which
tho concession was writton, and which was also endorsed by me. Thero was no
stipulation as to whon the concession would terminate, except that tho Vazior
had tho right to termiuato it himself. I fully understood when I took over
tho concession that it was liablo to bo withdrawn whenever tho Vazior
demanded it back, and I oxplaincd clearly to Mr. Fracis, both verbally and by
letter, that tho concession carried this condition. The Vazier did call ou mo
to roturn tho concession. He first did it verbally on several occasions and
* Copy tod truncation attached. ovcntually wroto a letter,* dated* 13th
September 1897, in whioh ho told mo to
t Thii la not quito corrcot.
return + it. On this I called on Fraois to
return tho concession, but ho rofusod. V About 39 months ago tho Vazior
wroto to mo forbidding tho importation of arms, and ho again wrote about
X Copica ami tranilntloua attached. 15 months ago to tho samo cffoct. Here­
with I put in tho original letters. J
Tho arms wero confiscated by tho Sheikh about ten days before tho
Resident arrived. I do not think any writton order about this was given by
oUO it m^ ilt ,*vfa dono tho Vazier and Sheridn (tho Sheikh’s
cloik). 1 ho Shoikh wisliod tho concession cancelled, becauso bo heard that
no Jv 80 iUt? arma to. 1>C0Pl0 on tho Arab Coast in Bahrein against
tho conditions of tho concession. Tho order givon by tho Shoikh R
docs not