'File 19/109 VI (C 45) Bahrain Relations with Foreign Powers' [‎94r] (204/520)

the 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. and not to that of the
Bahrain authorities, will be discontinued, and that they will
be treated in all respects as Bahrain subjects. H Possibly it
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is th© last sentence ohat led to the misconception^ but as X
spoke a little further on "the abolition of the capitulations' 1
in Bahrain, I think my meaning was sufficiently clear, I neTer
intended for one moment that Persians should be regarded as
Bahrain subjects, but merely that they should be subject to the
Bahrain courts in exactly the same way as British subjects are
subject to the jurisdiction of the Persian courts at the present
time.
3, In the next paragraph Mr.Bodd quotes certain private
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remarks made to him 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. , Bahrain, vthile
equally desirous that some measures should be taken in order to
protect Bahrainis in Mohammerah, Captain Prior differed some-
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what as to the methods to be adopted. If I may be allowed to
say so, I think it is a little unusual to quote in official
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despatches private remarks made by an officer, when his views
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differ from those officially expressed on the same subject by
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the officer under whom he is serving* However that is a
minor point, and the exact measures to be adopted may well form
the subject of discussion. -
4* Mr.Bodd goes on to say that he is unable to approve
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of inflicting hardships on these Persians for the sins of their
Government. The Bahrain Courts however are at least as fair
as the Persian Courts, and probably a good deal less venal*
I cannot see therefore that any undue hardship would be
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inflicted on them, and in any case their hardships would be
trivial compared with those of the innocent Eahrainis who have
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been imprisoned and forcibly conscripted to serve in a foreign
array* Should no sympathy be given to them ?