File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎102r] (208/531)

No. S59> d a ted Bushire, thei»th (received 19th) June 1905.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating 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,
To— S. M. Fraser, Esq., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign
Department.
In continuation of my letters Nos. 244 and 250, dated 4th June, l have the
honour to submit a copy of a further communication, with enclosure, which l have
received from 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. at
Bahrein.
No- 191 , dated 2 nd June (received 6 th June).
2. I hardly know what view the Government of India will take of Sheikh
Esa’s letter of 25th Rabi-ul-Awal to 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. , but it is evident from th,e
translation that the tone of it is very unseemly and I think Sheikh Esa would
hardly have dared to write it had he not had some astute prompter at his elbow
when he did so.
At the same time, apart from the unsatisfactory tone of the letter generally,
there are one or two references in it not altogether unwelcome ; firstly, Sheikh
Esa’s reference to his Treaty obligations ; and, secondly, his mention of the
Customs question.
3. I am on the point of visiting Koweit for a day or two, and if I fail to send
an answer by this mail to Bahrein, I shall have to wait for a fortnight. I have
therefore decided to send the Sheikh a reply which will I hope keep him quiet
until the Government of India have had time to consider the position. A copy
is attached.
It was not easy to know how to answer him, but I have come to the conclu
sion that it is best on the whole not to take him too seriously. In case however
the Government of India should not approve of what 1 have written, I am send
ing the communication to Captain Prideaux in memorandum form and have
asked him simply to have it read to the Sheikh in his presence. If anything
seems to require emendation the Sheikh can be addressed later in official form.
No. 191, dated Bahrein, the 2nd June 1905.
From— Captain 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,
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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
In continuation of correspondence ending with my letter No. 174, dated the
27th May 1005, I have the honour to enclose, for your information, translation of
a letter dated the which the Chief of Bahrein has addressed
to me.
2. The Chief first wrote a letter identical with this one, except for the
fact that it contained in the sentence beginning " What then is the reason for
^ thus insulting me, for taking possession ot my house and property, the additional
words “ and the felling of my flag-staff”. I pointed out to the Sheikh that I
had written to him on the 28th April 1905, informing him that the flag-staff had
been blown down in a recent heavy gale and that it had not been lowered by
myself • he replied that he had forgotten this fact, and after some hesitation said
that he’would have the letter re-written, omitting the incorrect remark.
3. The general tenor of the letter shows that the Chief does not intend to
accept uncongenial advice in connection with the internal administration of his
State, in spite of the written promise which he gave you.
Dated 25th Rabi-ul-Awal 1323 (30th May 1905).
From—S heikh Esa BIN Ali, 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.
Since long have I been waiting for replies to my wishes, communicated
through you 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. , and nothing has transpired yet. Surely
this is indifference.