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'File A/15 Jurisdiction over Hasawis' [2r] (5/40)
The record is made up of 1 file (18 folios). It was created in 28 May 1914-16 Mar 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. Cf. 164 , dated Bushire, the 22 nd (received 29 th)August 1914 .
From— Major S. G. Knox, C.I.E., Officiating
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,
To—The Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political
Department, Simla.
With reference to correspondence ending with my No. 1684, dated 2nd
June 1914, to your address regarding jurisdiction over Hasawis domiciled or
resident in Bahrain, I have the honour to enclose the translation of a reminding
letter received from Shaikh Isa on the subject. The communication has been
duly forwarded through 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.
.
Should Government approve, I propose to reply that, as Shaikh Isa pro
bably knows, there are several important questions pending as a result of the
outbreak of the war and it is inevitable that minor routine questions must come
in for a certain amount of neglect. I have however, forwarded a copy of his letter
to Government and no doubt orders will come in due course, when they will be
communicated to him.
Translation of a letter, dated the
From— Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifah, C.S.I., Ruler of Bahrain,
To—M ajor S. G Knox, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty’s
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.
^autT^
Consul-General in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
After Compliments, and enquiries after health,
I have received your esteemed friendly letter No. 266, dated, Yst^Mayand
understood about the question of the Hasavis and the person who has the right
of jurisdiction over them. At the time of our pleasant meeting and friendly
conversation when your honour had come here in “ Lawrence ” on 25th Jamadi
al Akher 1332, you had informed me that the letter which was sent to me by the
Amir had been submitted to the High Government, that those instructions were
only temporary, that the final orders in this respect shall be sent afterwards and
that the orders will be conveyed to me as soon as they come. In all circum
stances I have confidence in the justice and good intentions of the Government
and now again I repeat to your honour and hope from your kindness and good
disposition to submit it from me to the High Government that I am not at all
aiming at any other object in this matter and have no secret purpose. I request
that neither you should entertain such an idea nor should the High Government
that there is a deep meaning in this matter.
All that there is, is that as the Amir deputed unto me the jurisdiction over
his subjects I am naturally responsible for them to him and it is not proper and
agreeable for my Government to be deprived of their rights in it. Besides your
honour might understand on account of your high wisdom that that course would
do harm to my Government politically as it will be counted as my descending
from the Ruling capacity. I am certain that the Government would not like it
and never entertain it.
I always think that it is the High Government that upholds my Government
and that they wish welfare and progress for my Government. And what harm
does it do if the Amir be under the High Turkish Government and I do
not enter with him into important political affairs that I do not approve of.
It is nothing except the question of jurisdiction over subjects and that is
one of the friendly matters that always take place between the Government.
If the Amir rules over my subjects in his country, will he become under my
Government ? No ! not so. Every one is independent in one’s own country and
in the rule of one’s own territory. I have genuine hope that the High Govern
ment will approve (of my request) when they know the real fact which no doubt
you will submit to them from me.
This is what had to be said and may you be preserved and- protected for
ever.
,Ci 03 FD-" 44 —GCBP Simla.
About this item
- Content
The correspondence in the file relates to the question of jurisdiction over Hasawis living in Bahrain, and is raised by specific incidents occurring in 1914 and 1917 in which Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, chief of Bahrain, ruled on the measures to be taken against certain Hasawis for their debts or indiscretions. The correspondence is chiefly between the Bahrain 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. (Captain Terence Keyes in 1914, Captain Percy Loch in 1917), 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. (Major Stuart Knox in 1914; Major Arthur Trevor in 1917), and Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah.
In a letter dated 28 May 1914, Knox wrote to Shaikh ‘Īsá to state that the Hasawis, when in Bahrain, come under the protection and jurisdiction of 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. (folio 1a). However, a further incident in 1917, in which Shaikh ‘Īsá authorised the removal of a rudder from a boat belonging to an Haswai in Bahrain, led to further 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. (Loch), restating that Hasawis, and well as Najdis and Qatifis in Bahrain, come under the protection of the High Government and 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. (folios 13-15).
The file’s cover appears to be a later addition to the file, because it was in use in 1952 as the cover to another file (number 13/12) entitled ‘Ministry and Civil Aviation, Bahrain - Civil Aerodrome Circulars’. These details appear on the inside back cover of the existing file, as a result of the 1952 cover being turned inside-out to be used as a new cover for the older (1914-1917) file.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (18 folios)
- Arrangement
The contents of the file are arranged in approximate chronological order.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a. Folio 10 is missing, as a result of the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of folio 9 being labelled 10.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/11
- Title
- 'File A/15 Jurisdiction over Hasawis'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 1ar:1av, 2r:7v, 9r:9v, 11r:19v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence