Page 92 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

394 Records of Bahrain
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With Una short summary I will come to details.
4. In 1880 the Shaikh entered into closer relationship with the British by
a Treaty in which was included a provision by which ho agreed to 1mvo no negotia­
tions with Foreign Countries, and in 1892 he made a further and more extonded
treaty in which he stated he would cede no territory to foreign countries.
The protection given by Great Britain to Bahrain resulted in a considerable
increase of material prosperity and our interest, our influence boing moro and more
powerful, was turned to internal improvement and reform, and to precautions
against political competition on the part of European Powers.
5. In 1899 differences came to light between Shaikh Isa and his nephew Ali
bin Ahmad, son of the Shaikh Ahmad mentioned in paragraph 2, and supplied a
possible explanation for the anxiety which Shaikh Isa had displayed to liavo his
soil Ilanmd recognised by the British Government as his heir.
Sanction to this recognition, and it is illuminating that such sanction was
considered by the Shaikh necessary, was granted in 1898 but it was not actually
openly announced until 1901, owing to the obstruction by the Shaikh to the
reform of his cu'stoms, from which he was not receiving the valuo lie should have
received, the profits going mainly to the Customs farmers.
0. In 1899 the British Government offered to lend the Shaikh a British Cus­
toms Official but he declined the oiler the reason being apparently that he
considered his dignity and independence would be compromised.
In the same year, in violation of a promise that lie would not extend the
current customs contract without reference to the British Resident, Shaikh Isa
granted a new lease for two years, and enhanced the general rate of duty from 4 to
5 per cent., without giving previous notice to the British authorities.
7. It was felt that the time had come to replace the Indian Agent, who had
existed since 1829, by an European Officer, and in January 1900 an uncovenanted
officer of the Bushirc Residency was appointed. In earlier days an Assistant
Resident from Bushirc had been sent occasionally to reside in the Island.
8. The question of the customs was allowed to rest until Lord Curzon’s visit
to the Persian Gulf in 1903 when it formed the chief subject of discussion between
His Excellency the Viceroy and the Shaikh.
Lord Curzon pressed the customs reforms on the Shaikh but the latter main-
ta'ncd that .t. was a matter which concerned himself and there is little doubt that
he considered the matter as one affecting his independence. Lord Curzon,
however, gave him a final warning that the matter could not, and would not, be
dropped.
It may be stated that in 1901 Sir N. O’Connor hud recommended the
appointment of a British Director of Customs as a measure which would appear
to the Turks a material proof of British authority in Bahrain.
To coerce Shaikh Isa into acceptance of reforms would have been easy but
it was thought better that he should consent of his own will.
9. In 1904, after the failure of various attempts to induce the Shaikh to agree
to a reform of his customs administration, a further enhancement of the status of
the British representative in the Islands was approved of, and in October 1904
a Political Agent was appointed from the Cadre of the Indian Political Depart­
ment. Lord Curzon had felt, while at Bahrain, that an uncovcnantcd officer,
hailing from India, did not carry the necessary weight with the Shaikh of Bahrain
and it was hoped that a British Officer would obtain moro influence.
10. Shaikh Isa’s conduct, however, left much to be desired, and ho seemed
more concerned with preserving his independence from us, than with conciliating
us, by whom only his independence could be maintained.
11. In November 1904 *a riot had occurred in which the bodyguerd of tko
. Shaikh’s nephew Ali attacked the Persians resident in the bazaar at Manamch,
the capital of the Islands. Captain Pridcaux, the new Political Agent, interview­
ed the Shaikh in the matter but the Shaikh, on the ground that the Persians
were Mohammedans, declined to admit his interference, and expressed his inten­
tion of sending the ease to Shara. Ultimately the matter wus kopt pending
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