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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎34r] (72/531)

The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in Nov 1904-Aug 1914. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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[Confidential.']
No. 27 , dated Bushire, the 21 st (received 30 th) January 1906 .
From — Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
T° The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to reply to Foreign Department letter No. 4472, dated
6th December 1905, on the subject of the memorial addressed to Government
by the Sheikh of Bahrein.
2. I asked the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrein, for his views in the first instancej
* No. 24 of 19th January 1908. and attach a C0 Py ° f his reply.* It will
he seen that he is of opinion that
Sheikh Esa’s associate in the despatch of the memorial was Sheikh Mahomed
Abdul Wahab Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the Turkish subject, who has recently been reported upon
in Maskat diaries and with whose identity the Government of India are
familiar.
It is quite possible that the Arab, who is a close friend of Goguyer, may
have had something to do with it, but I think circumstantial evidence points
rather to Monsieur Goguyer himself or his son. They were both at Bahrein with
f Bushire Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Diaries for the weeks ^ party of French pearl merchants in
ending 17th September, 8th and 29th October August, September or October 1905, f and
1905 ' it will be noted that the handwriting in
which the English translation which accompanied Sheikh Esa’s petition is
written, is a continental one, and that the note paper used is the ordinary
cross-ruled pattern used by foreign merchants and wdiichto my knowledge
was used by Goguyer in Maskat. The handwriting is not Goguyer’s own and
probably not his son’s, but very possibly that of Madame Nattan or one of her
party. I am endeavouring to obtain specimens of their handwriting, and if
any tangible result is arrived at, I will submit a further report later.
The prominent position given to Sheikh Esa’s grievance regarding the arms
traffic also points to Goguyer; and on the other hand, the inclusion of the
English date and the correct names of Lord Minto and Mr. Brodrick, and
lastly the idea which prompted the despatch of the memorial through
Messrs. Kynoch all suggest a European rather than an Arab co-adjutor.
3. At the conclusion of their communication under reply the Government of
India invite my remarks upon the fact that Sheikh Esa employed the Agent of
a commercial firm for the transmission of his memorial to the Secretary of
State. For so venerable a patriarch Sheikh Esa is very ignorant in such matters,
and I think that any remarks addressed to him from the point of view that his
action was a breach of etiquette would be lost upon him. Owing, however, to
the fact that he has had very little to do with British officers up till quite
recently, and in spite of assurances from Captain Prideaux and myself, affects
to be uncertain whether all his wishes or representations are communicated to
Government, it might be well if I were permitted to make a communication
to him on behalf of Government to the effect that while the British Govern
ment are always glad to receive and ready to lend a just and sympathetic ear
to the legitimate representations of their subjects and dependents; so far as
he is concerned they have trusted local representatives whose responsibility
and habit it is to communicate his circumstances and wishes to them fully,
and that in view of this fact they can only consider his communications when
received through those responsible officers and not through the commercial
channels to which he has needlessly resorted in the present instance.
4. The arms trade to Bahrein, which is brought into prominence in
this correspondence, is only one factor of the general question of the arms
trade from Maskat to other parts of the littoral and if, as seems probable, the
whole question is now under review by the Government of India, the case of
Bahrein will no doubt he considered simultaneously with that of Koweit,
with regard to which I had the honour to address Government very recently
under my office No. 585 of the 31st December 1905.
With regard to the other topics touched upon in Sheikh Esa’s letter,
Captain Prideaux’s comment thereon and the general position at Bahrein, I
ask permission to postpone any special remarks or recommendations for a
4148 F, D,

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Content

The volume contains correspondence relating to disturbances in Bahrain and the consequent discussion over administrative changes. The correspondence is mostly between the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , the Foreign Office, and the Government of India. Further correspondence, included as enclosures, is from the following:

The disturbances centred around attacks on a German man and several Persians by Shaikh Isa's nephew, Ali bin Ahmed, and his followers in late 1904. The papers within the volume cover several matters related to these attacks:

  • the investigation into the details of the attacks;
  • the discussion over what to do about Ali bin Ahmed and his eventual exile;
  • British naval operations to enforce order;
  • Turkish claims that Shaikh Isa believes himself to be a Turkish subject;
  • the discussion over increased administrative intervention in Bahrain, specifically control of customs.
Extent and format
1 volume (260 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 1508 (Bahrain) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/81-83. The volumes are divided into five parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, and parts 3, 4, and 5 comprising the third volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 262; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎34r] (72/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/81, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027013012.0x000049> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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