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'File 9/4 Bahrain Reforms. Introduction of Reforms in Bahrain' [‎39r] (94/224)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (98 folios). It was created in 30 Dec 1921-27 Jul 1924. It was written in English. 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. 250-S., dated Bushire, the 31st May (received the 9th June) 1923.
From—The Hon'ble Lieutenant-Colonel S. G. Knox, C.S.L, C.I.E., Political
Kesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
i Bahrain Reforms. F
I have the honour to forward herewith a report in narrative form of my recent
proceedings at Bahrain with a view to the initiation of the reforms prescribed in
telegraphic correspondence ending with telegram No. 1629 from the Secretary of
State for India contained in your telegram No. 584-S., dated 5th May 1923.
REPORT ON BAHRAIN REFORMS.
A perusal of Confidential Report No. -C., dated 13th May 1923, 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. , Bahrain, to 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. , Bushire, which forms Appendix
I to this Report, will probably be the best introduction to this narrative. I would
take the opportunity of inviting the attention of Government to the valuable
assistance rendered to 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. , Bahrain, by Mr. J. B. Mackie of the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company whose statement forms the first enclosure to 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. 's Report. I have already expressed to him personally my warm
appreciation of the services rendered but I should be happy if I might be privileged
to be the channel of communication of an appreciation by the Government of
India of Mr. Mackie's assistance.
Although these disturbances between Nejdis and Persians broke out fresh on
the morning of the 10th May, there was unfortunately some unavoidable delay in
getting warships to the scene of action where H. M's. Ships " Triad " and " Crocus "
did not arrive before the afternoon of the 13th May. The telegrams from Bahrain
had been alarming and there was no knowing how far the disturbance might spread,
especially when in his telegram No. 62-C., dated 12th May, repeated in due course
to the Foreign Department, 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. , Bahrain, reported that distur
bances had broken out beyond the limits of the Manameh Municipality and that
the Bahrain Sunnis were attacking the Baharinah. It seemed quite likely that
there would be Sunni-Shiah fighting all over the Islands. As a matter of fact, how
ever, this particular incident resolved itself into a rather mild affair of Sunni land
lords chastising their Baharinah tenants and on the whole those Sunnis no doubt
thought that they behaved with studied moderation. I do not seek to palliate
their conduct but merely to reflect the Sunni point of view. It must be remembered
that when 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. talks of houses burnt he really means rough huts of
date matting that can be constructed in one day. The casualties in all amounted to
five deaths, probably the result of the indiscriminate Arab firing into a crowded
locality.
3. I was anxious if possible to get H. M. S. " Triad " to Bahrain as soon as
possible and so took the responsibility of diverting the mail steamer though at one
time, it looked as if rough weather would prevent me and my party from embark
ing on her. Fortunately, the weather abated and I was able to get myself, one
British Officer and one extra platoon* from the 15th Punjabi Regiment stationed
at Bushire on board B. I. S. S. " Varela " in the early morning of the 14th May.
Again unfortunately an accident to the Varela's engines made progress slow and
we had to tranship, still in fairly rough weather, to H.M.S, " Triad " at Bahrain,
not far short of midnight. My best thanks are due to the B. I. Company for this
timely assistance and to the Senior Naval officer for the excellent arrangements
made for transhipping me and my men from the " Varela " to H.M.S. " Triad ",
thereby releasing the mail steamer with the least possible delay.
4. On the morning of the 15th, Major Daly, accompanied by Shaikh Hamad
came off to see me and we discussed the situation. Both were able to assure me
that the disturbances had ceased with the arrival of the men-of-war, if not indeed
before, and that the situation was well ip hand. It seemed to me inadvisable with
only two days left to the termination of the long Ramazan fast and with the two
days of Id festivities immediately following, to attempt to commence rather difficult
and delicate negotiations. My immediate presence for the quelling of disturbances
was evidently not required and any drastic steps on the part of H. M.'s ships would
* The presence of the§e troops at Bahraii} is no longer required and they returnorf to Bushire in the
course cf this week,
MC194FD V

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Content

The volume contains printed copies of Government of India confidential correspondence, relating to the Bahrain reforms. The majority of the letters contained in volume are printed copies of correspondence originally sent to the Government of India either by 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Trevor or Acting Resident Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Knox), or 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. at Bahrain (Major Clive Daly). Much of the correspondence featured in the volume can be found in the original (or as office copies) in a number of files in the two Bahrain Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. subsubseries ‘File 9 Bahrain Reforms’ (IOR/R/15/2/127-138) and ‘File 8 Miscellaneous’ (IOR/R/15/2/121-126), and the 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. subsubseries ‘File 19 Bahrain’ (IOR/R/15/1/314-77).

The printed correspondence contained in the volume covers a range of subjects:

  • Events leading up to the programme of reforms carried out in Bahrain: allegations of the oppression of Bahraini subjects by members of the Āl Khalīfah family, violence, the deteriorating economic situation;
  • The reforms proposed and implemented by British officials: replacement of Shaikh ‘Īsá by Shaikh Ḥamad as defacto ruler, economic reforms, judicial reforms, pearl diving industry reforms, customs house reforms;
  • Specific incidents of violence involving Sunnis and Shias, or Najdis and Persians.

Some of the papers in the volume are accompanied by duplicate copies:

  • Folios 61-64 are duplicates of folios 57-60;
  • Folios 68-69 are duplicates of folios 66-67;
  • Folios 81-84 are duplicates of folios 77-80.
Extent and format
1 volume (98 folios)
Arrangement

The volume's contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, starting with the earliest items at the front and finishing with the latest items at the end.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using uncircled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . Most of the items in the volume are printed items that have their own internal pagination systems, using printed numbers in the top-right corners of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. pages and the top-left corners of verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. pages, or centred at the top of both verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. and recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. pages. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f.

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English in Latin script
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'File 9/4 Bahrain Reforms. Introduction of Reforms in Bahrain' [‎39r] (94/224), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/131, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023403812.0x00005f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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