"ملف XXII ٤ علاقات الكويت مع البحرين." [ظ‎‎٤‎٦] (١٠٦/٩٢)

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I view with suspicion their activities at Hasa, especially this latest move
for buying dates and starting a date factory there. I would like further
enquiries made as to the visit of Tomlinson on 14th-15th April. He came to
buy dates for Hill and Company. I have extremely reliable information that
he brought comparatively small quantities, but visited important merchants at
Najd and received orders for 3 lakhs of cotton cloths. Further the missionaries
have entirely ceased to convert, are entertaining largely, are giving presents in
great numbers, holding Majlis and are particularly friendly to all those whom I
know to be hostile to ourselves. They at the best are neutral in opinions asked
by Arabs of rumour in our disfavour.
Remedy, If they entertain, I propose to double it; if they hold a Majlis, I
propose to do the same.
** هذه التواريخ تقريبية ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية *
I propose to place an Agent in Hasa for this and other reasons and pos-s
sibly in Qatif. Once again the above is only very briefly put,
(f) Shaikh Abdulla’s visit will, I hope, be the remedy to many evils in
administration and result in peace and progress, and I hope tp make tus visit
more one for educational purposes than pleasure, and I hope you will approve
my considering this to be the main object of the visit, the education of course
being made as pleasant as possible, but that I should constantly bear in mind
local requirements rather than sight-seeing as such.
(g) The Ikhwan movement .—That through the above progressive proposal^
we should use Bahrein as the place from which wp ipay hope to influence
central Arabia and educate it. That the Agent should pay frequent visits to
Hasa, Qatif, etc,, and invite the Amirs and some of their officials to Bahrein.
That agriculture should be encouraged on the mainland in order to employ
these fanatics more profitably. I understand that there are large areas capable
of irrigation with the aid of machinery. If this could be accomplished large
numbers of Ikhwan might be settled. Bin Saud has constantly broached the
subject, and I might make it one of my duties tp get estimates and see types
of pumps, etc., at home. We could illustrate their utility and introduce them *
at Hasa.
I know ho'vy hard up you are for cars, but I would be grateful for a Ford if
you can spare one at any time. I think that the Agent should know every
village in the Island, every Shaikh and every Amir and cpnstan tly visit them.
It is more likely that in the small villages people will talk and give me a fair
idea of what is going on in there. In Manama a Ford could go anywhere on
the Island and further could be taken to the mainland and possible motor
routes explored as far as Hasa on toward Riadh and Koweit.
* * * * f
Demi-official, dated Bushire, the 17th June 19f9.
From—G. H. Bill, Esq., Deputy Political Resident, Bushire, ^
To— 'Lieutenant-Colonel A. T. Wilson, C.I.E., D.S.O., C.M.G., Officiating
Political Resident, Persian Gulf, Baghdad.
Bray’s demi-official of May 27th raises a large question of principle, which
applies not only to Bahrein, or even to Nejd, but to the whole of the territories
bordering on the Persian Gulf. It is a question to which I have given much
thought, and the issue may be fairly stated as follows:—
Hitherto the historic role of the British Government in these waters has
been that of keeper of the Maritime Truce. Until very recent times our claims
to predominance in the Persian Gulf, though well enough founded on our
performances in the role mentioned above, were not really much supported
by any exertions of ours in the direction of lighting and buoying, although
British statesmen were in the habit of assuming this for public consumption.
That has, however, now been remedied ; but the fact remains that Great Britain
has 1 been the maritime policeman of the Gulf, and very little more. Is it, or
is it not, desirable that we should take a pronou need step further, and assume
the responsibility for a gradual education of the Gulf populations on the lines
of Western civilisation ?