'File 19/126 II (C 29) Bahrain Customs' [‎20r] (53/567)

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■r Political Arencv. Pfihrflin.
CONFIDENTIAL « Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain,
Kp.i&c.:-™...:
Dated 28th February, 1920•
To
The Deputy Political Reeident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
B U S H I R E .
SUBJECT;Objection on the part of Bin Saud,Ruler of Nejd and
Dependancies, to the Shaikh of Bahrain*s policy of
impoeing a 5$ tax (or maximum import duty) on goods
destined for Nejd and Hassa although such goods never
leaved the Bahrain Custom House,
MEMORANDUM
For some months past there has been growing dis-satis-
faction among Nejd and merchants who have branches in
Bahrain,at what they call the unfair customis charges levied by
orders of Shaikh Isa on goods and food stuffs landed from B.I.
Steamers at the Bahrain Customs House which are consigned to Ojair
and Q.atif, the ports of Hassa and Nejd. This dis-satisfaction
culminated in the form of a deputation addressing me, consisting
of representatives of the houses of A1 Bassam, A1 Qusaibi,A1 -
Hawwas, and by the Bahrain merchant, Mr. Yusuf Kanoo, M.B.E.,
K.I.H., K.S. I informed the deputation that I did not ptopos®
taking action unless Bin Saud himself took the matter up. This
was early in January last. The actual nature of the complaint
of the deputation was as follows
'•That Shaikh Isa was imposing a fixed tax of 5% (ad valorem)
on all goods entering ^ahrain, whether from India or else
where, which were conBigned to Hassa and Nejd, putting
such goods on a par with those entering Bahrain Island®.
That up to 19 17 Shaikh Isa had been accustomed to impose
this 5^ tax only on goods which cleared th# uustoms House
and found their way into Bahrain itself.
That he used to impose a. 2% % ad valorem tax
on