File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎96r] (196/531)

No, 97, dated Bahrein, 30 th March 1905 .
From—C aptain F. B. Prideaux, Assistant 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. , Bahrein,
To-Sheikh Isa bin Ali, Al Khalifa, Chief of Bahrein.
now 34 days since Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed
fled from Bahrein ^ have heard many reports about his subsequent doings but
no doubt your facilities for arriving at the true facts are greater than mine
I have heard .nothing from you up to date. During the last two or three days
rumours are rife that Sheikh Ah has found it necessary to leave Katar and that
he has temporarily returned to Bahrein and is in the neighbourhood of Rufaa.
No doubt the true facts will come to light some day in the future.
I request that you wdl communicate to me, before the next mail leaves, your
re £ a . rdin g Sheikh Ah s movements commencing with the methods of
his night, his subsequent actions up to the present time and his probable future
intentions. I am hopeful that you will not conceal from me any of your know-
. In view of the uneasiness of the European, Hindu and Persian communities
in Manama, it is necessary that I should make a report to 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.
by to-morrow s mail.
Dated Bahrein, the 33rd Muhanam im .
30th March 1905.
From—S heikh Isa bin Ali, Al Khalifa, Chief of Bahrein,
To—C aptain F. B. Prideaux, 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. , Bahrein.
Af ter compliments.—\ received your letter of today’s date and have under-
stood its contents. You mention that rumours are floating about to the effect
that Sheikh Ah bin Ahmed left Katar and has now returned to Bahrein and
desire me to report to you on the subject. I therefore beg to inform you’ that
all this news about Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed is entirely false.
I have not lost sight of Sheikh Ali. If there was the slightest truth in anv
of these rumours I would have at once reported to you the fact.
. , U ,? V 0 the t! M, e ^ ei ^ h Ali h . as . not left Katar. And he cannot
reach Bahrein. He is still with theBedouin in the interior of Katar.
This is to inform you.
No. 120, dated Bahrein, nth April 1905.
From— Captain F. B. Prideaux, Assistant 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. , Bahrein,
To— Sheikh Isa bin Ali, Al Khalifa, Chief of Bahrein.
After compliments .—I have the honour to refer to your letter dated tb^
Jith Muharram i-tzi ■ , i i • i , . . . , ■ > n-utcii UdlCU 1116
3 ist March igos > with which you enclosed two petitions from Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed.
2. The full purport of these letters was posted by me to Bushire on the
day following their receipt from you, but I have since learnt that the Political
^Resident had not returned there when the last mail steamer left Bushire and
it has not therefore been possible for me to hear from him on the subject. *
3. My personal view on the matter is that the wisest thing that Sheikh Al
can do is to surrender himself to you or to the nearest British man-of-war as
quickly as possible.
The justice of the British Government is well known to every one. Sheikh
Ah has added^ to his earlier faults by disobeying your final summons to your
presence. It is also believed that he has taken away with him the other ten