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2. The firm asserts that they have a case against the British Government as the Sheikh
was really acting under the direction of the British authorities.
3. To clearly understand the position of affairs at Bahrein, in connection with the
concession granted by the Sheikh and its withdrawal as well as the attachment of the
stores of arms and ammunition at that place, 1 would, in the first place, invite apcrusal of
the accompanying letters and statements, a list of which is attached.
4. From these as well as from previous correspondence between the Government of
Narrative of recent event* at Bahrein which led India and the Resident in the Persian Gulf it
to the concession for importation of arm* granted will be seen that in 1895 there was much danger
y 1 e cl . to Sheikh Esaand his subjects, as well as to the
numerous British Indian subjects and proteges at Bahrein, from an attack which was
contemplated by Sheikh Jasim-.bin-Thani, whose head-quarters were on the neighbouring
Arab cost. The troubles were ended by the destruction at Zobara by Her Majesty's
gunboats .the Sphinx and the JHigeon of a number ol buggalows which were to have been
employed in attacking Bahrein, which was undoubtedly saved from a hostile invasion by
the intervention pf the British. 1
5. I am told that at that time there were not 100 rifles in Bhrein, and after the
incident was over the Sheikh'apparently wished
Small number of arm* in Bahrein in 1895.
to get some for his own protection.
16. To do this in the cheapest way for himself, he granted a concession to his Vizier,
Abdur Rahman, permitting him to import arms and ammunition under certrin conditions :
the Vizier, in return, to supply the Sheikh annually with 30 rifles and 6,000 rounds of
ammunition. In the concession it is stipulated that arms are not to be sold at Bahrein or
on the neighbouring Arab coast, and it is also stated .that it is liable to be cancelled on the
-death of the Vizier, or whenever he wishes to return it to the Sheikh.
7. Tfie Vizier, who could not, presumably, work the concession himself immediately
The Vjzier immediately hands over the conces- handed (it over to Agha Mohamed Rahim, a
Sion to Agha Mohamed Rahim, the newsagent at merchant in Bahrein, who, some sixty years be-
B&Juein to the Britnh Roulocy. fore, bad obtained Turki3h nationa|ity'
8. Mohamed Rahim is of Arab descent, but his family have for many years been
...... , D .. . Persian subjects, and have been connected with
atBahiSS/°f Agha Mohamod R*h,m' °cw*.agent the British Government. He acts as our news-
agent, and channel of communication with the i
Sheikh of Bahrein, and is supposed to look alter British interests there. He has the reputa
tion of being a wellrto-do merchant, and.it would, I may say, at once be difficult to get a man
of. his. position, to carry, on the duties he performs onjthe pay of the post, Rs. 100 per mensem
if.he is not allowed to trade. Mohamed.Rahim and his predecessors, no doubt, have only
held- it because it gave them prestige, and assisted them in their private commercial u nder-
takings. The Agent's dual possession is undoubtedly an unsatisfactory arrangement, and
advantage hasi been taken . of it by Messrs. Fracis, Times to assert that they were .
dealing with the British representative at Bahrein when they obtained the concession, and
again that t,he British representative had induced the Sheikh to act as he did, when in
reality Mohamed Rahim was acting in his private capacity as a private individual.
It will, however, be difficult to get a trustworthy agent of this class, or one who will
„ not use the influence, the position gives him to f
SXJKSMTSl" forward his own interest, and I cer.ainiy think
we ought to have an Englishman as our re
presentative for Bahrein and the Arab coast.
9. Mohamed Rahim having obtained the concession from the Vizier, entered into
arrangements with the firm of Messrs. Fracis
Agha Mohamed Rahim hand* on on the concc*. Tjmes & Co., with whom he previpusly had
sioo to Messrs. Fracu, Time*, St Co. business relations. ’ * *
10. The firm then started bringing arms to Bahrein, from which place they were sold
to traders from various parts, of the Gulf.
Traffic in arms how carried on. Agha Mohamed Rahim was made the Bahrein
agent of the firm, and was to get half the profits.
It is over the amount of these profits that the parties have fallen out. That it is over the
number of guns, etc., sold and the prices realized. A^ha Mohamed, Rahim was assisted in
the sales by his nephew Mahomed Khalil ; and Fracis, Times were also represented by
employes of their own, who appear to have watched the sales on their behalf and sometimes
to have sold the rifles themselves.
11. Payments were made as a rule direct to Mohamed Rahim, except where
. . .. Mr. Fracis at Bushire gave delivery orders to
Arras lometimes
trered at Bahrein a nPdrte °t,m»ssUd ilPo“V,. purchasers; that is it sometimes suit the firm
to take money at Bushire but not to deliver
the weapons there. In such cases the guns were handed over at Bahrein by the agent
on receipt o£ the delivery order, and there is little doubt that the arrangement was