Page 204 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

192 Records of Bahrain

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my reply to tho- petition sent by Your Excellency and a few of vour
subjects, and I am not propared to rcccivo Your Excellency in this con­
nection, especially as you wero most distinctly forbidden by Colonel Knox
to take part in political affairs in Bahrain, which therefore no longer con­
cern Your Excellency. If there arc any matters for discussion I shall ho
pleased to consider them together with your son Shaikh Hamad, in whose
hands tho conduct of affairs in these Islands now is.
I shall howover be very glad to rcccivo Your Excellency tomorrow on
a purely friendly visit on the understanding that no political matters
whatsoever will bo discussed. My visit to Bahrain is to consult with tho
Political Agent regarding reforms to be introduced and has no connection
with the petition which has already been fully answered.

Enclosure 2.
Translation of a petition from twelve Sunni Nakhitdas, sent on hoard
R. /. M. S. " Lawrence ” on 1st November 1923.
To
Lieut.-Col. A. P. Tiievoh, C.S.I., C.I.E.,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
Oh Noble Sir,
Major Daly has published to the people of Bahrain a notice in reply
to our petition as lollows :—
“ As it appears from petitions I have received and other sources that
people arc in doubt as regards the continuity oi policy regarding reforms,
1, Col. A. P. Trevor hereby inform and make Jt clear to all people in
Bahrain that liis Majesty's Government alter exhaustive inquiry decided
last May that the condition of affairs in Bahrain islands urgently demanded
reform and therefore ordered reforms to be initialed, lie it known therefore
that the orders of Government will be carried out and the policy of reform
recently initiated pursued without deviation.”
Oh Honourable Sir! It is clear from this that Your Honour has
understood from the petition that the people of Bahrain arc opposed to
reforms and arc desirous of a state of savagery. Oh Sir, we arc civilised,
not wild people. We ourselves strive for reforms and are for long past
a civilised people, but we do not accept that such a thing should be mis­
named. Is it possible for anyone to speak of what has happened and is hap­
pening in Bahrain as Reforms? (sic). Is it ‘reforms’ to dismiss the Amir ot
the Town from his duties against the wishes of the people and his own wish,
without ‘ Sharn ’ grounds therefor, and is it reforms to deport people and
imprison and fine them by thousands and tens of thousands, without trial ?
Is it * reforms ’ to change Manamch into a foreign town? Is it ‘ reforms
for Major Daly himself to act like a Qadhi, as if he were the ‘ Shara 1 and
the Qadhi, or is it reforms like the matter of the killing of the Bastaki on
the charge of stealing a ring? Is it ‘ reforms ’ to abuse noble people iu
Court? Is it reform to close all the courts and open only one court in a
place like Bahrain, and to make all eases be opened by petitions which
take a long time so that if a case be criminal or urgent, such eases are
dealt with only twice in each week? Is it ‘reforms’ to put the revenues o
the country into an English bank, without taking the opinion of the people,
when the revenues come out of their pockets I In short these arc examp *
of what arc called ‘ reforms ’ which you have taken up in this 20th ccntui>
and which Major Daly has commenced. Is it. right for a person to tais
another person’s house on the excuse that it urgently needed rep an
(reform)? Indeed reforms are such things as advance the people, )
Major Daly has shut the road to advancement and he it is who stops tno. •
who strivo' for their country, liven the Moniei|>nlitv. is n I •
affair. Major Daly handed over lo Foreigners who ore li:it«ful to (no peof