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'File XXII 4 Koweit relations with Bahrain.' [‎49r] (97/106)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (53 folios). It was created in 7 Mar 1906-14 May 1920. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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make us lose patience with the present ruler, through his apparent obstinacy
and maladministration, both of which they encourage and excite. They may
therefore be said to be playing a two-handed game, one incited by.their own
hopes and ambitions and the other fostered by their real hostility to ourselves,
for supposed wrongs committed and natural dislike of the white foreigner, the
more so as he has behind him the mighty strength of a great nation.
Thus then may we sum up the character of Shaikh Tsa bin ’ Ali al Khalifah
with its resultant effects on his dealings with ourselves :
“ ^ Ter y old and weak man, imbued with sincere feelings of friendship and
regard for His Majesty’s Government, swayed and confused in his weakness by
virile and astute minds and delicate intriguers, dictated for the most part by
evil intentions to himself, to us and to both—helped in this by the characteristics
of Arab mentality mentioned above.”
4i. We must now turn our attention from the “Entourage” of* the
RuleV to the “ Mass,” and in this direction are causes of hostility and lack of
prestige no less interesting and no less delicate. For here we have the “ pawns”
in the game and the material for thejedifice of hostility.
We will divide them into two classes :—
A—The Government officials ;
B—The notables of the Islands.
^—Like all Government officials of an oriental State, we may expect to find
abuse of authority and extortion, but unlike most oriental States in such close
relationship to a European Power, we may be justly grieved to find th^t these
exceed all bonds of propriety and sense of justice, so much so as to call forth
the odium of the Arabs themselves. The Amirs or Governors of the towns of
Muharraq and Manama are officials entirely unsuited for control, and the power
they wield is oppressive and immoral.
The Amir of Manama encourages and receives an income from prostitutes
and gamblers, impresses boat and donkey transport in a shameless manner
and generally extorts money from householders, shopkeepers and the peopje as a
whole.
The Amirs of Muharraq is little better, and would be equally as bad, were
he not more or less under the supervision of the Shaikh who resides there for
the greater part of the year.
The Amirs being men of this stamp, it is not surprising that the “Zidawis ”
(police) and officials under them follow their lead.
This being so, it is obvious that any measure of reform is at once opposed
by these gentlemen, and intrigues set on foot to prevent them being carried
out.
B—The Notables of the Island. —Of these 25 per cent, are friendly to a
greater or less degree, while 75 per cent, are definitely hostile.
I will attempt to describe the more important of them further on in this
note, but for the present I will confine myself to anticipating the causes of our
unpopularity in a general way before coming to details.
These causes we may study under three headings ;— '
(i) War, {it) Normal, {Hi) Individual.
(i) War.
(a) Economical. —The necessary restrictions due to the war have hit
the Island hard as in most other places. The prohibition of the
export of silver and restrictions as to the export of rice from
India during 1919 especially have caused acute hardship and
discontent, but except where these have been taken advantage
of by ill-disposed persons they should be speedily corrected or
erradicated by the return of normal conditions, when present
prohibition prices will fall an^ normal trade be resumed. Our
efforts then must be directed to the removal as soon afe possible
of trade restrictions made necessary by the war.

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to Kuwaiti relations with Bahrain from 1906 to 1920.

The discussion in the volume relates to:

  • a note of a conversation between the Resident and Shaikh Mubarak [Shaikh Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ] of Kuwait concerning Nasir bin Mobarak bin al Khalifa the 'outlaw relative' of Shaikh Isa of Bahrain [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah];
  • reported expulsion of Jews from Bahrain;
  • Bahraini political exiles;
  • Shaikh Mubarak's visit to Bahrain, 1911;
  • A note by Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson, entitled 'Note on History of Zubara and Claims of Shaikh of Bahrein to Zubara', which includes (folio 44) a small sketch map illustrating the remarks in this note.

Included in the volume (folios 33-34) is a copy in Arabic and English translation of the letter of Nasir bin Mobarak bin al-Khalifa, Chief of the Al Abdullah branch of the Al Khalifa family of Bahrain 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. . Also included is a map (folio 44) prepared by the Acting Civil Commissioner for Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson, to illustrate his 'Note on History of Zubara and Claims of Shaikh of Bahrein to Zubara'.

The principal correspondents in the volume include: 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. , Percy Zachariah Cox and later, Francis Beville Prideaux; 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. , Kuwait, Stuart George Knox; the Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson; 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. , Bahrain, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer.

Extent and format
1 volume (53 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 53; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 2-52, and ff 3-39; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File XXII 4 Koweit relations with Bahrain.' [‎49r] (97/106), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/60, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100033163054.0x000062> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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