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'1914 War: Miscellaneous Letters concerning Bahrain' [‎14r] (29/166)

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The record is made up of 1 file (81 folios). It was created in 8 Jun 1914-15 Sep 1917. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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initiative. He did 00; and, infltead of an absolute prohibition,
I agreed to a proolanation prohibiting the export of food o tuff
without a permit# 3haikh laa agreed to abide by my advice in
givin^ peimita. I aleo agreed toJhis^fixing roaximtOM ratos for
foodstuffs when things had settled down a bit. The Hindus at
onoe oame to me howling ^hat they would be ruined - their rioe
trade was a transit trade - moat of their rice was of a sort
unsaleable in Bahrein etc.
I pointed out that any rioe was good enough for a hungry
man, that permits oould be obtained; and told them I would con
sider issuing permits when they have given me a statement show
ing rice in stock - rice en route - Bahrein sales and transit
sales. This they would not do as they did^t want to give away
trade secrets. Today I hold a meeting and fixed prices of all
foodstuffs. Vhe Arab and Persian merchants played up, but the
Hinduo were very unhappy. I huve aosured them that the prohi
bition is only temporary to al^p^T panic, that it will be re
moved as soon as foodstuffs come in freely, and that the rates
will bo varied as occasion requires. I an not anxious "-bout
the actual stocks of foodstuffs, though I see that the Rangoon
rioe market is closed and that shipping nay bo difficult to
arrange. Dates will be at bottom prices and plentiful, and
Basrah wheat ought to be plentiful, "he decline in the purcha
sing power of the people is the danger.
The panic has been allayed for the time, and I think wi'll
get all the divers out to the second fishing without any trouble.
3o much for the immediate future which is v/hat worried the
1
Bahreinis.
'That worries me, though the Arabs dent see it yet, is the
absolute certainty that, whatever the course of the war, no money
will be forthcoming for pearls till next season (June 1915); and
I doubt if, under the most favourable circumatanc«»«, there will
be any then. This means that at the division of profits in
October there will be absolutely nothing to go round.
Taking the most favourable figures, there will bo in Bahrein

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Content

The file consists of miscellaneous official and demi-official correspondence relating to the outbreak of World War One and its impact on Bahrain (which is generally referred to in the papers as Bahrein). Most of the correspondence dates from 1914.

The papers largely consist of 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. , Bahrain and 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. , but also includes correspondence in Arabic and English between Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa [Sheikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah], Ruler of Bahrain and 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. . The papers include regular reports by 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. on general conditions in Bahrain. Specific topics include: proposed increase in Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. guard, June 1914; proposed regulations covering foodstuffs, pearls and security [1914]; Turkey, and the possibility of Turkish support for Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd (Ibn Sa‘ūd)], July 1914; the pearl trade, August 1914; prohibition of export of foodstuffs, August 1914; food prices, August, October 1914; effect on customs receipts, September 1914; problems caused by unemployed Kurds and Basris in Bahrain, September - October 1914; distress among pearl divers, September 1914; currency issues, October 1914; rumours of German ships in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , October 1914; the services rendered by Sheikh Abdullah [Sheikh ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] to the British, the statement that he had been the moving spirit behind the donation of 9600 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. by Sheikh Isa's family to British charitable war funds, and the recommendation that he receive an honour, November 1914; and hardship caused by the infrequent arrival of mails, March 1917.

Extent and format
1 file (81 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1A on the front cover and terminates at 81 on the back cover. The numbers are written in pencil and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff. 1A, 1B; ff. 16A, 16B; ff. 78A, 78B, 78C, 78D, 78E. In some places the foliation system has numbered versos as well as rectos, with the result that folios 35, 41, 49 and 63 are missing from the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. pages. The following folio needs to be folded out to be read: 78E.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'1914 War: Miscellaneous Letters concerning Bahrain' [‎14r] (29/166), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/67, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023668083.0x00001e> [accessed 19 April 2024]

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