File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎50v] (105/531)

2 Later the Mussulman representative here was replaced tor an
English one, who meddled himself with the home matters and arrogated
to himself the competency in wind was no business of his, thoug .
ignorant of the religious law and customs ot tne Mussulmans. Here is
an example of what resulted ol that. ,
A German merchant evinced contempt for one of my family s princes,
the Shaikh Ali, a son of my late brother Ahmad and in some way one
of mv sons, married with my daughter Then three men of war went
in front of the Principality capital, for the sake ol that Hernia
merchant, and staid there many days, threatening and preparing for
battle with ns. * „ , . *
3 Afterwards your representatives asked me tor delivering mv son,
the Shaikh Hamad, to them, and I, for my respect to Britain, delivered
him to them ; then they arrested him and kept him prisoner on board
of one of the vessels. xi
4. They seized upon the house of mine at which I had authorised the
Shaikh Ali to live in; they possessed themselves of all his personal
properties, horses, thoroughbred camels, household goods, utensils, &c.;
they carried all that; to Bushire, Kuweit and Muscat, except a part which
burned. .
5 As Shaikh Ali had tied for fear, your representatives requested me
to proclaim order to arrest him, and I did so, not willingly but by
force. . ,
(j. On account of the quarrel which had happened between the
German and the iUi’s servants, your representatives ordered and
gathered a line, and I must have got scourged violently the Shaik All’s
servants in presence of 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. of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
and the Political Assistant at Bahrain. Accordingly, that affair
was a settled one, when, at my amazement, happened the event
aforesaid.
7. When Shaikh Ali surrendered, asking for indulgence from the
gracious Imperial Government, lie was arrested and is yet a
prisoner.
5. They threw clown my flag mast, the sign of my rank.
9. After ail that I wrote to your representatives that they state to
the gracious Government the vexations I had suffered; hut no reply
reached me from them.
Accordingly I try to move your pity, and I request from your justice
and equity that you restore me in my previous quietness and content
ment; for it is the state that suit you as well as us, and thereby your
reputation will be retrieved among the people of these countries.
I wrote this in tw r o copies, one of which I send to the Viceroy of
India, His Excellency Lord Minto, and the other to the Secretary of
State for India, His Excellency Mr. Brodrick.
All of us pray God in behalf of Great Britain for ever. God save
you!
The 3rd Shaban 1323 ( = 2nd October 1905).
(Signed and sealed from) Issa bin Ali Al Khalifa,
the ruler of Bahrain.
Enclosure No. 2.
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. to Kynoch, Limited.
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. ,
Sir, 22nd November 1905.
I am directed by Mr, Secretary Brodrick to acknowledge, with
an expression of his thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 14th