Page 29 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

Regional relations, 1926-1931 331

Page 2.
question to me was to ask v/hat I proponed to do about the
matteri and the feeling tluxt. hue been prevalent wnonget the
Utiharna for some time ti.;*t \/e were not fulfilling our duty
of protecting their interests has increased.
5. I have an invitation from the Amir of .jatlf to

visit him, and before taking any other steps I propose to go
over and nee him, and see if it is possible to arrive at an
amicable settlement. It is possible that we have not had the
full facts, and it is also likely that they fear some general
intervention on behalf of all the Q,utifis. The Amir, I hear,
has written direct to the King, and has urged some clemency
towards the Cfcatifis whom he said have ' only their skins left. *
It appears that this general persecution has been set on foot

by the fyusaibie, who of course pay no Jihad, and who are rapid­
ly buying up all the landed property of the unfortunate refu­
gees for ridiculously low prices.
6. If the facts arc as stated, and the Amir gives
me no satisfaction, it will be necessaxv to consider what steps

are to be taken. It will be impossible to do nothing. V/e are
expected to protect Sahara a, and having made use of the Islands
in every way that suits us, v/e cannot refuse to pay the price.
V/e have deprived the State of the power of protecting itself>
and since v/e allow Nejdis to fatten in Bahrain and enjoy a pri­
vileged. position, v/e cannot refuse to take up the case of their
opposites in Oyxtif. The political effect of these tv/o . '
instances, and the similar case that I have reported separate­

ly in fyUar has been deplorable.
7. Bahrain is in a very strong position if only it'
is allowed to make use of it. If the Nejd government contin^
nue to molest Bahama we should in the first instance icreaBe
the customs duty on R.15.cargo to 3,4 or 5 per cent, and ex-
plain that v/e are doing this to provide for the sufferers at.

their hundo on the mainland. This would very eoon bring them
to their Bonse8 . If they imprison .Bahama, fop no reason,••'we;.<