Page 12 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat
P. 12
314 Records of Bahrain
4
(0)
MEMORANDUM. • i;< \-t .•
The papers specified below were transmitted to the Secretary, Political Depart
ment, India Office,.London, for the information of Ilis Majesty’s Soorotary of
State for India, under cover of the Foreign Secretary’s lottor No. 20-M,, dated tho
14th April 1927.
Letter from the Hon’blc the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, No. 87-S!,
dated the 27th March 1927 [Serial No. (5)].
(7)
Letter from the Hon’iile the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf*
No. 138-S. (Confidential), dated the 1st/7tii May 1927.
1. I have the honour to state that in my letter No. 87-S., dated tho 27th March
1927 [Serial No. (6)], reporting my action with regard to tho Dowusir tribe which
desires to come back to Bahrein, I stated that a letter of recommendation .which the
Dowusir chiefs had brought with them to me from I bn Saud, was part of an ar
rangement between the Sheikh of Bahrein and the Dowasir chiefs, and that- Ibn
Baud’s recommendation was obtained with all of their knowledge to strengthen tho
Sheikh of Bahrein’s hand with the Resident in the matter.
2. In my report No. 87-S. quoted [Serial No. (5)], I gave my reasons for allowing
the return of tho Dowasir, provided that it was made quite clear to them that they
came back as ordinary individuals, and I also gave obvious reasons for allowing
them to take back their neglected properties which wore empty of owners and were
going through lack of care to rack and ruin ; evon in tho few cases where the places
had been purchased under pressure no development had been possible.
3. The return of their properties has cost tho State Rs. 40,000, but this Rs-
40,000 was money which lmd been paid into State funds and is now. paid out again.
It is no loss but a gain as the properties will now once more be developed.
4. 1 now forward a letter No. C.-53, dated the 24th April 1927, from tho Political
Agent, Bahrein, which has arrived today with an enclosure, dated the 20th Shawal
1345 from the Financal Adviser, Bahrein.
6. The Political Agent’s letter will probably necessitate my visiting Bahrein
again. It is quite obvious that where the Dowasir tribe has been punished with
expulsion* for three years for offences which they have committed, they cannot bo
given the rents which have accrued to the Bahrein Government during that
absence, without unaoing the result (object?) of the punishment given. It would
mean, not forgiveness, but a confession by us (not by Sheikh Ilamad) that wo
had been harsh.
G. The Political Agent suggests that a third of the rentals should bo returned on
account of repairs necessary to the deteriorated properties and the poverty of tho
tribe. I propose that if it is found that a sum is necessary for the rehabilitation of
the property, that that sum shall have no connection with the forfeited rontals.
I am prepared to recommend the Bahrein Government to allow, as a separato act of
government, such sum as may be necessary to enable the properties to become
habitable and productive, but the principle of tho punishment given and the for
giveness on promise of better conduct for the future must be maintained.
7. For the same reason I propose to agree with the Political Agent’s recom
mendation that no diver shall be forced to go back to the Dowasir with his previous
debt maintained against him. The pearl diving trado is built up on a form of
slavery dependent upon the debts of tho divers, and tho cancellation of such debts
will certainly be a very severe handicap to the Dowusir tribe.
8. In any case it woulu be impossible for us to saddlo the divers with thoir old
slavery, the moro especially ns they have probably acquired a now one with now
masters. The diver is an imprudent person, who readily takes und spends advancos -
which ho con never repay.
9. Tho chief intorcat iy theso lottorp, and the reason I attach thorn in full, is that
they show the growing strength of the Wahabi influence in tho Persian Gulf, but I
am approaching this subject in a separate despatch with reference to Bahroim
• Xlioy UU oI their own nccoiU, vide ti. (1) olid a'ao pngo C 2 in Fl'o 480-X,
J
