Page 330 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

182
was closo Co his was not nttooked by the Bahaih shows that tho lutfor’s object was not tho
Dawasir’s. Tho Amamcrahs aro a distinct tribe, and have no oouncoli'»n whatever with the
Dawasirs, and live in a separate village near tho Dawasirs at Bidaa on tho north west coiner of
tho Island of Bahrein.
«< Sheikh Abdullah-bin-Hassan, the Chief of Dawasir, was not killed in tho attack on
Sheikh Seliuan, but another Dawneir. Sheikh Abdullah is still alive, and is personally known
to mo. The Dawasirs are subjects of the Chief of Bahrein. Rasliid-bin-Megarih, the Chief
of Bahnih, and his second son and a Babaih tribesmen only wero killed by a slave of Sheikh
Selmau in the attack on tho latter and his party, and not thirteen persons as stated by tho
Turkish Minister of tho Interior. Tho Morra, Ajman, and two Beni Hajir, companions who
went with Sheikh Selmau and lost their lives in the attack, were killed by the Bahaih, and
therefore must not be included in the number of the persons killed by tho party attacked.
« There was no connection whatever betwocn tho party of tho late Shaikh Selman and
that of tho Dawasir tribe. The simultanpous orossingof the two parties to the mainland wa»
a mere co-incidence, as that is tho usual season for such parties to cross over for tho purpose of
hawking tho “ hubara.”
"It will bo observed that tho Babaih wero tho original aggressors against the Amamorahs
whose blood-feud was finally settled amicably, and subsequently the Babaih without any
cause attacked the late Shaikh Selman and his party starting a fresh bicod-fcud. As explained
m the previous correspondence, according to triual custom, it is only the section of the tribe,
a member of which sheds blood is responsible, and not the inhabitants of a whole district, as it
would seem the Turkish Minister desires to imply. In this case the Babaih assassinated 24
persons belonging to Bahrein, and if a balanco is struck, there ora 21 lives to be accounted for
by the Bahaih, but the Bahaih being undoubtedly tho aggressors, it seems contrary to justice
to allow any deductim being made when settling the matter. Tho Chi*f of Bahrein tells me
that he cannot accept blood-money for the lives of the three momhers of his family ; and, if
peace is to he established between him and Bahaih, the ouly means to be adopted are those
mentioned in the third paragraph of my letter No. 109, dated tho 17th May 1902. As
Sheikh Alimed-bin-'l hani would be acting as a peacemaker between the two parties. I do not
see what complications can arise in the future.”

498. On 18th August.1903, Colonel Kemball reported that the negotia­
tions attempted • through Sheikh Ahmed
Secret E., September 1904, No*. 66 87. (No. 5G.)
had proved abortive, and suggested as the
only alternative that His Majesty’s Government should clearly inform the
Turkish Government that if satisfaction were not giveu within a definite
period, the Chief of Bahrein would be permitted to take his own steps to obtain
satisfaction. The satisfaction demanded by the Sheikh, as noted above includes
the payment of a sum of Rs. 85,140, as blood-money and compensation for
property plundered and the surrender of three of the three persons impli­
cated for execution or possible pardon.
499. In telegraphing the purport of Colonel Kemball’s report (telegram
dated 13th September 1903), the Viceroy
Hid. No. 67.
expressed concurrence with Colonel Kem­
ball, suggested that satisfaction should be demanded within two months.
The Secretary of State replied on 3rd November ly03 :—
"Sir N. O'Conor has caused the Porte to telegraph instructions to Bisrah asking for an
immediate report on the present position with regard
°‘0 ‘ ^ to Behaih, and stating that full redress for the
murders is required. He suggosts that before allowing the Sheikh of Bahrein to take th-j
matter into his own hands, a reasonable time should be allowed for an answer.”
600. Then followed tho Secretary of State’s despatch No. 11 (Secret), date d
19th February 1904, which forwarded the
Ibid. No. 69.
correspondence between tho Foreign Office
and the India Office and Sir N. O'Conor. It appeared from it that Sir N’Conor
bad insisted on reparation being made by payment of blood-money as sug
gested by Colonel Kemball. Tho Minister of tho Interior stated in reply tha*
it would be impossible to exact such a largo sum from the delinquent tribes,
especially nomadic as they were. Nevertheless the Minister communicated by
telegram the substance of Sir N. O'Conor’s note and instructed him to take
action accordingly, and Sir N. O'Conor undertook to recommend His Majesty's
Government to let matters stand until a reasonable time had elapsed “ during
which the Vali could endeavour to execute the fresh orders sent to him. ” Sir