'Shaikh Ali bin Ahmad' [‎9v] (18/630)

2
endeavours to effect Sheikh All's surrender and offered a large reward for his
capture. I imagined, however, that Government would not be pleased at the
fact of Sheikh Ali's being still at liberty when there was no doubt that the
Chief could effect his capture, and 1 thought that the tone of his last letter
would certainly add to their, displeasure. I further pointed out as I had often
done before that if the case had been referred to His Majesty's Secretary of State
for India a reply could hardly yet be expected.
5. The Chief replied that he liad been badly treated, that he*saw nothing
objectionable in the tone of his letter and he expressly desired that I should not _
keep back the copy of it, which I had prepared to forward to you.
6. On the second occasion I suggested td the Chief that if he thought
the written promise which had been extorted from him was unjust, would it not
be better lor him to address Government separately on the subject and in a
more conciliatory tone, stating the grounds for his view ? I also suggested that
in such a letter he might express the hope that nothing In his letter of the 30th
May would give offence. The Chief repeated that he could not agree with me
that there was anything offensive in what he had written, and that if Governhietft
considered that there was and called upon him for an explanation it woukl be -
time enough then to give one.
7. At the moment of my taking leave the Chief relaxed his attitude to the
extent of saying that he would consult his son Hamad further on the subject.
As, however, Sheikh Hamad passed me on his way to Manama for a few days'
stay, when I was going to Muharraq, and did this in spite of my having
given the Chief previous notice of my intended visit, I do not think that any
result will be apparent from this consultation when it does take place.
8. The explanation of the Chief's unreasonable attitude lies, doubtless, in
the fact that he is being continually pestered bv Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed,^ who
is supported by all the younger members of the family, with requests for permis
sion to come back to Bahrein and threats tojnvolve the Chief in further trouble
if'his case is not soon satisfactorily settled.* On Monday last, the 5th Instant,
the Chief sent his son Hamad to me with an urgent message that he had
received news from Katar that Sheikh Ali had made up his mind to return to
Bahrein. I asked Sheikh Hamad whether Sheikh Ali was thinking of attacking
Manama or of surrendering himself to the Chief. Sheikh Hamad replied that he
did not think he intended to adopt either of these courses; he was tired of his
uncomfortable exile in Katar and merely wished to live quietly and secretly in
some out-of-the w r ay place in Bahrein. I told Sheikh Hamad that it was ^ood
news that Sheikh Ali was contemplating a return to Bahrein, and if he could be
induced to submit himself to the orders of Government such a conclusion would
be most satisfactory.
If he came without any such intention, it should not be at all difficult for
the Chief to cut oif his retreat and to make him a prisoner. I added that if
Sheikh Ali did return to Bahrein and succeeded in escaping again later, the
Government of India would certainly take very serious notice of the matten
Sheikh Hamad replied that " Inshallah," Sheikh Ali would not come. Sheikh
Esa was doing his best to dissuade him, as nobody in Bahrein would be f«und
willing to capture Sheikh Ali, and it was recognized that his coming here in
safety would be injurious to the Chief's interests.
9. At the close of this interwiew the thought occurred to me that possibly
Sheikh Ali had already landed in Bahrein.
My Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. conceived the same suspicion, and on the following day he was
told by a respectable Arab that Sheikh All was actually at Jasera at the southern
end of the island.
I am trying to get confirmation of this report, but am inclined'to think that
it is not correct as nothing, fresh has transpired durng the last two days.*
• A liter demi-offlcial commuaicatioo states that the report referred to was found to bave no foundation*
P. Z. Co*,— 14 ^-®5- 2
G. C. Pre**, SimI «.-No. CJ34 F. O. - g -7-oi.—