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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎5v] (15/531)

The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in Nov 1904-Aug 1914. It was written in English and French. 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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7
i^i
2
'ism
unobtrusive interference with a view to improved Customs management at no
great cost to Government, certainly not out of proportion to the advantages
that 1 hope may thereby be obtained for trade in general and British trade and
Shaikh Isa in particular.
It seems to me important that 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 endeavour to
establish closer relations with the present Customs Director, who appears to be
progressive and amenable to the Political Agent’s advice and influence The
Polft cal Agent is however, very fully occupied and his staff are exceedingly
hardworked. It ’is not to be expected and would indeed as arousing suspicion
be undesirable for him to show a continual interest in the details^ of Customs
management and his staff, as at present constituted, have not the leisure to do so
on his behalf. This difficulty could, I believe, be surmounted by the a PP? ,nt '
ment of a special “ commercial ” clerk preferably an English knowing Hindu
whose duties would be confined to noting exclusively on trade and Customs
management at Bahrain, with special relation to the financial position between
Shaikh Isa and his Hindu Customs department. It will, no doubt, be obvious
from the above that the Hindu clerk to be appointed should be a persona
Praia to the present Customs Superintendent, who might well be consulted
in regard to the appointment. 1 hope, in this way, to keep 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.
in close touch with the Customs management and enable him to introduce
reforms without appearing himself, and to increase our knowledge generally on
Bahrain commercial matters and on what is going on at the Customs House.
The fright to which the Customs Superintendent has lately been exposed and
the success with which Major Trevor’s influence was exerted on his behalf
should render him more than ever amenable to the Political Agents
advice and influence.
6. Should the Government of India be disposed to entertain the idea
favourably, I will direct 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, to submit concrete proposals.
Before submitting this draft, I have consulted Major Trevor, the late Political
Agent, Bahrain, and Captain Keyes, the new incumbent, who both welcome the
proposal.
c
Enclosure No. i.
Translation of a letter No. 542, dated 16th May 1914, from Major A. P. Trevor,
C.I.E., 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, to Shaikh Isa bin All Al Khali/ah, Chief
of Bahrain,
When I called yesterday to take leave of you, you mentioned that you were
thinking of appointing some Arab to the charge of Customs, and I very strongly
recommended you not to do anything in haste but to give the present manage
ment warning that you are not satisfied with the work done and direct them to
keep regular accounts, etc. I added that if eventually any change is to be made
in the charge of the Customs it should only be given to experienced persons
and that if you required experienced persons I could, no doubt, assist you to get
some.
I trust that on thinking the matter over as you promised to do you
have decided to act on my advice. If so the‘rest of this letter may be
disregarded.
On my return to Manama yesterday I was exceedingly surprised to hear a
very circumstantial report that a contract for the Customs was to be given to
Abdullah Qassaibi and Ahmad Salman for 6 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year, I think this is
probably incorrect in view of what you said, possibly this report has been spread
by the interested parties.
Should there be any truth in it, however, I must take very strong exception
to the appointment of these two individuals as farmers.
First, because the alleged proposed arrangement is a farm of the Customs
and you have on previous occasions told various Residents that you would not
farm the Customs. Secondly, because the two individuals concerned are totally
inexperienced in Customs work, and further as you are aware objections have
been made against them individually by my predecessors for various reasons.

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Content

The volume contains correspondence relating to disturbances in Bahrain and the consequent discussion over administrative changes. The correspondence is mostly between the 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. , the Foreign Office, and the Government of India. Further correspondence, included as enclosures, is from the following:

The disturbances centred around attacks on a German man and several Persians by Shaikh Isa's nephew, Ali bin Ahmed, and his followers in late 1904. The papers within the volume cover several matters related to these attacks:

  • the investigation into the details of the attacks;
  • the discussion over what to do about Ali bin Ahmed and his eventual exile;
  • British naval operations to enforce order;
  • Turkish claims that Shaikh Isa believes himself to be a Turkish subject;
  • the discussion over increased administrative intervention in Bahrain, specifically control of customs.
Extent and format
1 volume (260 folios)
Arrangement

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

The subject 1508 (Bahrain) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/81-83. The volumes are divided into five parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, and parts 3, 4, and 5 comprising the third volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 262; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎5v] (15/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/81, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027013012.0x000010> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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