'File A/15 Jurisdiction over Hasawis'

Content

The correspondence in the file relates to the question of jurisdiction over Hasawis living in Bahrain, and is raised by specific incidents occurring in 1914 and 1917 in which Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, chief of Bahrain, ruled on the measures to be taken against certain Hasawis for their debts or indiscretions. The correspondence is chiefly between the Bahrain 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. (Captain Terence Keyes in 1914, Captain Percy Loch in 1917), the 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. (Major Stuart Knox in 1914; Major Arthur Trevor in 1917), and Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah.

In a letter dated 28 May 1914, Knox wrote to Shaikh ‘Īsá to state that the Hasawis, when in Bahrain, come under the protection and jurisdiction of 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. (folio 1a). However, a further incident in 1917, in which Shaikh ‘Īsá authorised the removal of a rudder from a boat belonging to an Haswai in Bahrain, led to further correspondence from 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. (Loch), restating that Hasawis, and well as Najdis and Qatifis in Bahrain, come under the protection of the High Government and 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. (folios 13-15).

The file’s cover appears to be a later addition to the file, because it was in use in 1952 as the cover to another file (number 13/12) entitled ‘Ministry and Civil Aviation, Bahrain - Civil Aerodrome Circulars’. These details appear on the inside back cover of the existing file, as a result of the 1952 cover being turned inside-out to be used as a new cover for the older (1914-1917) file.

Extent and format

1 file (18 folios)

Arrangement

The contents of the file are arranged in approximate chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a. Folio 10 is missing, as a result of the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of folio 9 being labelled 10.

Written in

English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/11

Former external reference(s)

Confidential files: Political A/15

History of this record

Date(s)

28 May 1914-16 Mar 1917 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

People & organisations

King of BahrainBahrain Political Agency

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Cite this record in your research

'File A/15 Jurisdiction over Hasawis', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/11, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002ea> [accessed 21 July 2026]

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