'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎10r] (28/478)

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with the sheikh, and accordingly one was appointed in 1904. From this date our
interest in internal matters increased. During the five years of the war no action
was taken, but in 1919, probably owing to the treatment of the Shiahs having
provoked a protest in Tehran, our immediate interest in the misrule of the State
became very much greater, and on our finding Sheikh Isa entirely obstructive he was
removed from active control, his son Hamad acting as his deputy.
With this short summary T will come to details.
4. In 1880 the sheikh entered into closer relationship with the British by a
treaty in which was included a provision by which he agreed to have no negotiations
with foreign countries, and in 1892 he made a further and more extended treaty in
which he stated he would cede no territory to foreign countries.
The protection given by Great Britain to Bahrein resulted in a considerable
increase of material prosperity, and our interest, our influence being more and more
powerful, was turned to internal improvement and reform, and to precautions
against political competition on the part of European Powers.
5. In 1899 differences came to light between Sheikh Isa and his nephew,
Ali-bin-Ahmad, son of the Sheikh Ahmad mentioned in paragraph 2, and supplied
a possible explanation for the anxiety which Sheikh Isa had displayed to have his
son Hamad recognised by the British Government as his heir.
Sanction to this recognition—and it is illuminating that such sanction was
considered by the sheikh necessary—was granted in 1898, but it was not actually
openly announced until 1901, owing to the obstruction by the sheikh to the reform of
his customs, from which he was not receiving the value he should have received, the
profits going mainly to the customs farmers.
6. In 1899 the British Government offered to lend the sheikh a British customs
official, but he declined the offer, the reason being, apparently, that he considered his
dignity and independence would be compromised.
In the same year, in violation of a promise that he would not extend the current
customs contract without reference to the British Resident, Sheikh Isa granted a
new lease for two years, and enhanced the general rate of duty from 4 to 5 per cent.,
without giving previous notice to the British authorities.
7. It was felt that the time had come to replace the Indian agent, who had
existed since 1829, by an European officer, and in January 1900 an uncovenanted
officer of 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. was appointed. In earlier days an Assistant
Resident from Bushire had been sent occasionally to reside in the island.
8. The question of the customs was allowed to rest until Lord Curzon's visit to
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in 1903, when it formed the chief subject of discussion between His
Excellency the Viceroy and the sheikh.
Lord Curzon pressed the customs reforms on the sheikh, but the latter main
tained that is was a matter which concerned himself , and there is little doubt that
he considered the matter as one affecting his independence. Lord Curzon, however,
gave him a final warning that the matter could not, and would not, be dropped.
It may be said that in 1901 Sir N. O'Conor had recommended the appointment
of a British Director of Customs as a measure which would appear to the Turks a
material proof of British authority in Bahrein.
To coerce Sheikh Isa into acceptance of reforms would have been easy, but it was
thought better that he should consent of his own will.
9. In 1904, after the failure of various attempts to induce the sheikh to agree
to a reform of his Customs Administration, a further enhancement of the status of
the British representative in the islands was approved of, and in October 1904 a
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. was appointed from the cadre of the Indian Political Department.
Lord Curzon had felt, while at Bahrein, that an uncovenanted officer, hailing from
India, did not carry the necessary weight with the Sheikh of Bahrein, and it was
hoped that a British officer would obtain more influence.
10. Sheikh Isa's conduct, however, left much to be desired, and he seemed
more concerned with preserving his independence from us than with conciliating us,
by whom only his independence could be maintained.
11. In November 1904 a riot had occurred in which the bodyguard of the
sheikh's nephew All attacked the Persians resident in the bazaar at Manameh, the
capital of the islands. Captain Prideaux, the new 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. , interviewed the
sheikh in the matter, but the sheikh, on the ground that the Persians were
Mahometans, declined to admit his interference, and expressed his intention of
sending the case to Shara. Ultimately the matter was kept pending until the arrival
of the Resident. In the meantime the Persian sufferers had telegraphed to the Shah