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'File 9/31 Report that illicit trade between Bahrain and Persia is encouraged by the Political Agent Bahrain' [‎12r] (23/36)

The record is made up of 1 file (16 folios). It was created in 19 Jul 1946-24 Oct 1946. It was written in English. 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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CONFIDENTIAL
No.C/1210.
POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , BAHRAIN
The 29th October, 1946.
To
The Hon»ble 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 per: '
MEMORANDUM .
Reference your printed Letter No.c/752 dated the
25th August, 1946.
2. The Adviser informs me as follows:
"Mohd. Kawash came from Bushire to Bahrain in
June, 1932. According to his own story he had to leave
Bushire in a hurry because he had forged a cheque. He
arrived with no money and for some time existed on the
charity of local Persians. Later he worked in turn as a
messenger, a peon A low-ranking infantryman, orderly or assistant (South Asian context). , and a clearing agent at the customs for
some Persian merchants. He also made money by selling
information about liquor and drugs to the Bahrain police,
and there is reason to believe that the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. employed
his services for a short time as an ’informer 1 . (Mr. Bel-
grave states that this was in Major Alban's time).
In 1935 to protect himself against the consequences
of his Bushire mal-practices he applied for, and was granted,
Bahrain nationality. The Adviser informs me that he did not
know at the time the reason for Mohd. Kawash's leaving Bushire.
and dried fruit from Persia. He had previously worked as
agent for another importer, Saleh bin Abdullah Saleh, but
they quarrelled and Kawash was instrumental in getting the
latter a prison sentence. During the war years he prospered
exceedingly and is now reputed to be worth several lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . Tie is in partnership with one, Ali Dashti, once a
school-master in the Persian School and now ostensibly in
the export trade but actually an active smuggler. Kawash
also trafficks in opium, but does not use it himself. Both
partners are connected in their smuggling activities with
Shaikh All, son of Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa, the uncle of
His Highness.
He owns property in Bahrain and has built a house in
Manama on his own land. In every way a most undesirable
member of society, he^is both intelligent and without scruples.
He has often made use of this to interfere in other people's
quarrels in order to benefit himself. He caused trouble with
the municipal officials on behalf of some merchants who had
a grudge against the Baladiyeh, and, a few years ago, was
mainly responsible for the fracas between the police and
some people who were taking part in a Muharram procession.
For this he was deprived of his Bahrain nationality. Tie is
an active Shia, but there is no information to show that he
is politically inclined.”
3. In 1943 an Increase in the tea and sugar quotas of the
Arab Sheikhdoms was made for barter purposes, and Mohd. Kawash
was one of the importers who bought barter tea and sugar from
the Bahrain Government in order to make these barter purchases
for Bahrain, it is suspected that he sometimes filled tea
Soon after this he started a business importing fresh
/chests

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Content

The file contains correspondence between 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. at Bahrain, the British Embassy at Tehran and the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, concerning allegations of illegal trade between Bahrain and Iran by a merchant from Bushire, who was responsible for smuggling sugar, tea and opium into Bahrain, and who is believed to be employed by the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. as an 'informer'.

Extent and format
1 file (16 folios)
Arrangement

The papers in the file are arranged chronologically. There are file notes at the end, on folios 15-17. The notes are arranged chronologically and refer to documents within the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 18; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-13; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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'File 9/31 Report that illicit trade between Bahrain and Persia is encouraged by the Political Agent Bahrain' [‎12r] (23/36), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/375, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025657180.0x000018> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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