Page 183 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

Reaction to the reforms, 1923 171

In any oaso I think it advisable that I should visit Bahrain,
as soon as possible to 3ed how things are getting on.
I have etc.,
3d. A.P.Trovor, Liout.Col.
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.

No.279.
To
His Excellency Shaikh Isa bin Ali of Bahrain.
Af ter Complimonts.
1 have received the petition signed by Your Excellency and
certain other Sunni Arabs.
Your Excellency is under a misapprehension as regards the
reforms at Bahrain. These are not initiated by the personal wish
of Major Daly or oven of Colonel Knox. The High Government lias
beon forced to order them to be put in hand, as after prolonged
enquiry and patient watching they found that the State of affairs
in Bahrain absolutely necessitated reform. Your Excellency will
remember that very many time3 you have been requested by the
High Government to reform your administration, one of the last
occasions being in March 1922 when under instructions from the
High Government I personally visited your Island and called on
you to take action. Gn another occasion in April 1922 when your
Shiah subjects could no longer bear the tyranny to which they
were subjected and became restive and petitioned me and the High
Government, you yourself undertook to introduce some reforms to
ameliorate tlioir condition.
But my friend you have never introduced anjr reform eithor
at the urgent request of the Government in fulfillment of your
own promises. And as the tyranny and oppression in your island
had become a public scandal it became necessary for the High
Government to take action, and hence the action by Major Daly
and Colonel Knox to which you take exception. Your Excellency
I feel sure luiows this, but a3 you ignore it in your petition
I feol bound to inform you again.
I