Page 33 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

Regional relations, 1926-1931 335

Page 5.
did not pay lull taxes, but that if they bought houses
and settled down, they would be liable just like the
others. I quoted an instance of the pearl buyers who
came to Bahrain for four months every year, and said
that they v/ould not have to pay.
7. He appeared relieved at this and said that
that was what his instructions were. He then asked me
how long a man would have to stay in a place to be con-
.I't*
sidcrcd domiciled in a^ibace, and I said that it was
difficult to say in all cases and to lay down’s defi­
nite rule, but that at least six raotnhs in a year would
usually be considered necessary.
8. He then asked me how they were to say who
were Bahama and who were not. I explained that the Bah­
rain Government were only issuing passes to those who
had been born in Bahrain, and were in no way interested
in anyone else. I told him that on my return from
Bushire, T had informed a deputation of Qatifis-, with
your authority, that they could eEpest nothing from us
if their claim to be Bahama was not absolutely gen­
uine, and he'ap peared much relieved at this and question*
ed me about it. I!e si£id that he had been oblieged to
report to Bin Baud that the Bahrain Governments had
welcomed the emigrants even without passports, and that
they had taken arms with them, contrary to all laws.
I said that it was not correct to say that they had been
welcomed, and it was certainly incorrect to say that ;
they had^arms, but that Shaikh Hamad’s attitude was
that Bahrain was ' maftuh,' open to all Arabs who chose.
to come there. 1 was about to mentions that we had ^
raised no objection when they had xk sheltered the Dow-“
asir when they left Budaiyya, but did not do so in case
he should imagine that we were now retaliating. • ...
9t. The possibility I suggested in ray lett!erV4.;(C.;
of the 15th January appears correct and we have
rently received a very onesided account of'thb,4|(gl/|