File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎236v] (478/531)

the defensive in this recent matter and form common cause with Sheikh Ali
and that for this reason oar disinterestedness ^might be suspected if the
taking over of his Customs was allowed to become an item of our punitive treat
ment of him in the present connection.
I admit that there is force in this. On the other hand, if we are going to
coerce the Chief, it would save a good deal of trouble to include the Customs
question and have done with it, seeing that it has been troubling us so long.
1 must leave the question in the hands of the Government of India.
23. I now only have to discuss the means of coercion. The position in ^
this connection is not quite so simple as it was when coercive action was
last taken at Bahrein. There is now a considerable community of Europeans
in Manama, viz., 12 or 15 Missionaries and two or three European traders,
besides our 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. . In connection with the present case, the Sheikh
who has no doubt been instigated all through by the Mullahs Jassim and
Ahmed, could if he liked arouse a good deal of fanatical feeling in the matter
and this has to be taken into account.
I do not think it would be advisable to propose any fresh terms or
settlement to him without having at hand the means to enforce them on the
spot, and at present we have not got them. H M. S. Redbreast, manned as she
now is with a lascar A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. crew and carrying only seven or eight bluejackets, would
be of no use for any work on shore.
In my opinion if it were intended to coerce the Sheikh or depose him it
would be advisable and necessary to have a second ship of war present and to
send a battalion of native infantry or at all events four companies to Bahrein
to camp for the re-d of the winter on the open ground outside the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , for
the reassurance and safeguarding of the European community and of British
subjects in general, until matters had settled down.
24. Although as I observed before I cannot foresee what view Government
will take of this case ab initio I have thought it advisable to write fully on all
points which seem at all likely to be involved.
I may add that Captain Prideaux’s views coincided entirely with mine
throughout in regard to the attitude of the Sheikh, and when we parted neither
of us had any hope that any solution short of coercion was possible.
Writing to me the day after my departure he mentioned that he had
nothing fresh to report,
“ only that the Sheikh has closed all the coffee shops in the centre of
the Bazaar, professedly to lessen the chances of disturbance, but
* i.c., on our advice on 7th December. actually because they are
( P. z. cox. run by Persians who
have only just* opened after
a closure of three weeks. The Arab coffee shops are nearer the
outskirts of the town and have been allowed to keep open.”
This is only another instance of his hostile attitude towards the Persian
community.
25. There is one aspect of the question which I forgot to indicate in its proper
place. I venture therefore to do so now. It bears on the question of the pro
tection of this Community of Persians.
The matter, as mentionM in the body of the report, has already been dis
cussed at Tehran. If then jwe see substantial justice done to these subjects of
the Shah, the fact of our having done so will, now and always, greatly strengthen
the hands of His Majesty's Legation, in pressing claims of ours and as an ins
tance of our general friendliness to the Shah’s Government and subjects.
The converse would also be the case.
28. In an analogous connection with the above I may mention that I have
this moment received an informal note from my German Colleague Herr Yon
Mutius regretting that owing to my being in quarantine he cannot see me
personally m order to present you my best thanks for your efficient help
to the German firm, which, I trust, settles the case.”
27. I have omitted also^ to mention that supposing that the Government of
India agree to tae deportation of Sheikh Ali (which I look upon as of the first