Page 91 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

Regional relations, 1927 393
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But they do hold communication with Ibn Saud.
70. Am I then an alarmist when I consider that with the growth and advance of
tho Wahabi power, with the activity reported by the Political Agont, vulc. paragraph
01 with tho absorption of principalities foreshadowed as possible in paragraph 8 of
Foreign Offico lottcr No. E. 0118/180/91, dated November 3rd, 1920? We have
food for thought.
In 1870 Midhat Pasha Wali of Baghdad formulated a definite claim to Bahrain
as appertaining to tho Qaim Majnmtcq of Ncjd and geographically it belongs to
Qatar and Ilasa.
Wo have found that the growth of nationalist spirits in China, in Persia and in
tho East generally, has produced new circumstances which we have had, at any
rate partially to accept. Would not the growth of a nationalist Arab and Islamic
spirit mako our position in Bahrain a matter of considerable difficulty, if that
position were left in its present indefined condition.
77. My more definite suggestions in this reference I make in my accompanying
despatch on our position with regard to internal affairs in Bahrain.
A copy of this despatch is being sent to Ilis Majesty’s Minister, Tohran.

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Letter from the IIon’m.e the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
No. 295-S., DATED THE 1ST SEITEMHER 1027.
In my accompanying despatch No. 294-S., dated to-day (S. No. 0), I lmvo
dealt at length with the history of Bahrain, the growth of our political interest in
it and international claims with reference to the archipelago.
I now propose to deal with the development of our concern in tho purely in­
ternal affairs of the island up to the present day.
2. This interest may be said to date from 1877. I quoto extensively from
Lorimer.
In 1809, we had installed Shaikh Isa as ruler of the Island and it was entirely,
and only, due to our support that he had been able to keep his position.
Since the year mentioned the British Government considered that they were
bound “ to prevent grave outrage or oppression by the ruler, or at any rate not to
remain unconcerned spectators of such acts of violence, but rather use their influence
to repress them”. In consequence the Resident was authorised to convey to Shaikh
Isa and to his brother Shaikh Ahmed, who was his Chief Adviser and had a stronger
character than the Shaikh the emphatic disapproval of Government at an act which
the latter had committed in killing a first cousin of tho Shaikh and to convey
a warning agaiust such conduct in the future.
The above statements are the key to all future developments in Bahrain.
3. From 1877 to 1900 we were chiefly concerned with external matters though
attempting with our advice to improve internal conditions. At this time tho
financial condition of the state seems to have given us most concern and we wero
attempting to improve the customs system which had much leakage.
Up to 1879 tho Assistant Resident in Bushirc occasionally spent some time
on the Islands but in 1900, as will be seen in the body of the roport, an uncovenant-
cd official was appointed to reside on the Island. By this time Lord Curzon was
Viceroy and it is probable his interest in tho Gulf and Persian affairs focussed our
attention on matters connected with it. In 1903 on his visit to Bahrain Lord
Curzon considered that an officer of the Political Service would have more in­
fluence with the Shaikh and accordingly one was appointed in 1904. From this
date our interest in internal matters increased. During the five years of the war
no action was taken but in 1919, probably owing to the treatment of the Shiahs
having provoked a protest in Tehran, our immediate interest in the misrule of'
the state became very much greater and on our finding Shaikh Isa entirely ob­
structive.ho was removed from active control his son Hamad acting as his
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