File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎151r] (307/531)

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Government]
ARABIA.
[April 4.]
’ONEIDENTIAL.
Segtiok 3 .
XI
No. 1 .
Admiralty to Foreign Office.—(Received April 4.)
(Confidential.)
Sir, Admiralty, ipril 1, 1905.
1AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit here
with, for the information of the Marquess of Lansdowne, copy of a letter dated the
Bfih ultimo, with inclosures, from the Commander-in-chief on the East Indies station,
relative to the state of affairs at Bahrein.
I am, &c.
(Signed) C. I. THOMAS.
Inclosure 1 m No. 1 .
Rear-Admiral Atkinson- WHies to Admiralty.
(Confidential.) March 10, 1905.
IN forwarding Captain Eustace’s letter of proceedings, I have the honour to report
that, in accordance with the Secretary of State s instructions to the Governor-General
m Council, I placed “Fox,” “Sphinx,” and “Redbreast ” under command of Captain
Eustace of the “Fox,” to carry out the wishes 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. . Major Cox,
as defined in the instructions given to him by the Government of India, which were
received from His Majesty’s Government.
2. Captain Eustace appears to have so disposed his flotilla that the Sheikh Esa was
overawed, and complied with the demands, although he appears to have allowed his
nephew, Sheikh Ali, and Mullah Achmed, a turbulent priest, to escape.
3. 1 consider that Captain Eustace and the officers and men under him carried
out a dififieuit task with forethought, firmness, and forbearance, and brought a trouble
some difference with Sheikh Esa and the Mullah to a satisfactory, because peaceful,
solution.
4. The Sheikh is a weak old Chief, and was much under the influence of Sheikh
Ali and Mullah Achmed, both of whom fled from Bahrein into the country bordering
A1 Katr.
(Signed) GEORGE L. ATKINSON-WILLES,
Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-chief.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1 .
Captain Eustace to Rear-Admiral Atkinson-Willes.
Sir, “ Fox,” at Bahrein, March 2, 1905.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that in accordance with your telegraphic orders
of the 19th February, 1905,1 left Bushire on the 20 th, and anchored off Bahrein on the
21 st. His Majesty’s ship “ Sphinx ” was found at anchor off Manamah. On the 22nd
I weighed and anchored in the outer harbour. His Majesty’s ship “ Redbreast ”
arrived at 5 p.m. on the 23rd with Major P. Z. Cox, C,I.E., 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. to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , who landed under a salute of thirteen guns from His Majesty’s ship
“ Sphinx ” at 7 p.m.
2 . A salute of five guns was fired by the shore battery at Manamah, under the
misapprehension that Sheikh had called upon the Resident; he, however, paid his first
visit at 8 a.m. on the 24th, at the 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. , Manamah, when he was informed by
Major Cox that he was wanted at 9 a.m. on the 25th to hear a message from the British
Government.
3. On the 25th February the demands of the British Government were presented,
and their tenour explained to Sheikh Esa at the 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. , Manamah, by Major Cox,
copy attached.
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