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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎18r] (40/531)

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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Confidential.
No. 2041, dated Bushire, the rst (received 10 th) September 1906 .
From Major P. Z. Cox, 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 The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To Sir Louis Dane, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India
in the Foreign Department, Simla.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Foreign Department letter
^ 0 * 33^3;E.B., dated 14th August, regarding the administration of the Customs
at Bahrein, and beg to attach copies of the informal letter which I addressed
Cox to Sheikh Esa ’ dated Mth to Sheikh Esa on the subject and of his
personally when delivering my letter.
2. The Sheikh’s reply is much what I feared it would be; a friendly but I
absolute refusal to entertain my proposals.
I cannot think of any further possibility in the way of friendly overture
on our part, and it remains for the Government of India to decide, on the facts
before them, what line they will^ now pursue. I agree with Captain Prideaux
in thinking^ that if it is considered inexpedient to assume management of
Sheikh Esa’s Customs before January 1908, when the present farm falls in, it
would be better for us to inform the Sheikh forthwith that, with the proviso
that we could not permit any lease to a foreign agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , we propose to leave
him to his own shortsighted devices, and that he is therefore at liberty, if he
chooses, to resell the farm to the Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. contractors ; this, in our opinion, being
a preferable alternative to his attempting to manage the Customs collection by
his own untrained retainers.
3. There is one point which I may briefly allude to in conclusion. As Captain
Prideaux mentions in his note of 18th June, there is no doubt that Messrs. Gray
Paul and Company, or for that matter Herr Wonckhaus’s firm, would be glad
enough to acquire the farm if they could. Captain Prideaux deprecates this
contingency on the ground that if either of the European firms obtain the lease,.
Jbe believes that there would be continual effort on its part to injure the other and
its clients. I am not sure that 1 agree with him in principle.
Messrs. Gray Paul and Company area British firm of repute and would I
think keep their competitive amenities within reasonable limits, and for the rest
it becomes merely a question of our supporting a British firm and British trade
against a German firm and the inroads of German trade. Anything that we can
legitimately do to further our interests seems to be desirable.
In the present instance, however, Sheikh Esa is the difficulty and I fear it
is extremely unlikely that he would entertain an offer from Messrs. Gray Paul, at
present at all events.
Purport of a letter> dated 14th August iqo6, from Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., to
Sheikh Esa bin Ali At Khalifah, Bahrein.
After compliments —I trust that you and your family have remained in the
best of health during my absence in India.
I write you this informal letter to let you know that since my return to
Bushire I have received and studied the several annual reports of our representa
tives in the different posts under this Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. both in Persia and on the Arab
Prideaux 10 Major Cox, dated 24th writing, and I therefore asked Captain
Prideaux to offer to explain them to him
(3) Captain ]
August 1906 .
side, regarding the progress of trade and events in the countries in which they

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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)' [‎18r] (40/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/81, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027013012.0x000029> [accessed 20 April 2024]

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