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FOR THE YEAR 1919.

CHAPTER X.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE BAHRAIN POLITICAL AGENCY
POR THE YEAR 1919.

I .—Personnel.—Charge of the Political A gency was hold by the following
Officers for the period shown :—
Captain N. N. E. Bray, M.C., from January 1st to June 6th. Indian
Assistant Syed Siddiq Hasan, from 6th June to 6th November. Major
H. R P. Dickson, C.I.E., present incumbent from November 6th to date.
Captain Bray proceeded on special mission to England on 6th June 1919,
at the termination of which he appeared before a medical board in England
which granted him 6 months sick leave.
I[#—Shaikh'Isa and al Khali/ah Family.—(a) Relation with Shaikh Jo&
have continued fairly satisfactory, with the exception of the question of Majlis-
al-Urfi which ceased working from loth April 1919. On that date Ahmad
Yatim, one of the oldest Arab members of the Majlis-al-TJrfi, was removed by
Shaikh Isa, at the instance of another Arab who had personal animosity
against, him, without consulting the Political Agent. It was a test case and
an endeavour on the part of Shaikh Isa to assert his authority regarding the
question of removal and nomination of members of the MajYisal-Urfi. Shaikh
Isa had been led to believe, by certain interested persous, that he had the right
to .dismiss any member of tbe Majlis-al-TJrS at pleasure, under the terms of the
Order-in-Council which came into force from February 3rd, 1919. Representa­
tions were at once made to Shaikh Isa, who deputed his son Shaikh Abdullah
to interview the Political Agent regarding the Majlis and his supposed right
over it. Shaikh Abdullah was given thoroughly to understand that the
Political Agent could not couutenanoo any changes in the functions and
composition of the Majlis-al-Urfi w ithout being consulted, this being in accord­
ance with existing ruliDg. Shaikh Isa insisted that it was his right to send
the weekly notice calling the Majlis to meet and not the Political Agent’s, and
that tbe composition would be the same as agreed on between the Political
Agent and himself with the exception of Ahmad Yatim, who had resigned and
not been dismissed as reported- In point of fact, Ahmad Yatim had been
dismissed by Shaikh Isa but had received further instructions to give out that
ho had resigned of his own free will. Ahmad Yatim confessed this to the
Political Agent. Whilst this vexed question was still being discussed, Captain
Bray received orders to proceed to England with Shaikh Abdullah’s mission,
and no further progress was made in the matter.
(b) Before leaving Bahrain and unknown Captain Bray, Shaikh Isa
instructed his son Shaikh Abdullah to approach the King Emperor in London
with four petitions for favourable consideration. They were as follows :—
(1) That the Chief of Bahrain should be placed on an equal line with
other neighbouring Arab Rulers and to exercise full jurisdiction
over all subjects in his territory.
(2) That the selection of the members of the Majlis-al-Urfi should be
one of the rights of the Chief of Bahrain.
(3) That the port of Zubarah on the Qatar peninsula, as it once belonged
to his forefathers, should be made over to him. 3
(i) The privilege of a direct reference to higher authority Aould be
given to the Chief of Bahrain,
(c) One of Major Dickson’s first acts on arrival at Bahrain waa to again
take up the question of Majlis-al-Urfi. In November 1919 representauona
were made to Shaikh Isa with a view to re-starting the Majlis. 8haikV Isa
after much " beating about the bush ” deputed his son Shaikh Abdullah to
inter new the Political Agent on the matter. A frank and full discussion took