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Coll 30/69 'Bahrain: Pearling Riots in.' [‎12r] (23/161)

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The record is made up of 1 file (79 folios). It was created in 25 Jan 1932-15 Aug 1934. It was written in English. 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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Please refer to your endorsement ■wo # * , «2« 1081/1933
forwarding a copy of a letter from tne Anti-Slavery and
Aborigines Protection Society dated 7tn February 1933 to the
Foreign Office, on tne subject of certain allegations made in
a Berlin paper regarding tne treatment of pearl fishers in
Bahrain.
2. The Society fails to give tne name of the newspaper
concerrwd ,30 one does not know whetner tne latter is a ’rag*
or a paper of standing, and tne translation of the German
article reads queerly in parts: "They relate in the Gulf that
if a small sailing boat should ever become suspect or trouble
some there, then, rammed by a gun-boat, it can quickly dis
appear into tne farewell for ever.” In these times, however,
one cannot afford to ignore any form of hostile propaganda
however foolish it may seem. I suggest therefore that the
Anti-Slavery Society, which is of course a very influential
body, be sent the attached account of the riots summarised
from Priori letter No.C/83 of 30th May 1932, forv?arded to the
Government of India under Biscoe's despatch .No#3t>4-3 of 4th
June 1932. It will be seen that the affair has been grossly
misrepresented by the German journalist. It was excellently
and humanely handled by Prior, and the Government of India
expressed their appreciation of his services on this occasion -
vide their letter l!iOei).2l52-lsl/32 of 30th June 1932.
J. G. Walton, Esq., G.B., M.C.,
The 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. ,
London.S.W.l.

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Content

The file concerns demonstrations by pearl divers in Bahrain in 1932, in the course of which two people were killed. The disturbances arose following the issue of a proclamation by the Government of Bahrain announcing changes in inheritance law. However, the file states that the basic cause of the 'riots' was economic: a protest against the smallness of diving advances. The papers record the British view of the causes of the disturbances and their circumstances; the role of Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain; the response to the events of the British Government; and comments in the German press.

The papers include a letter 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. , Bahrain (Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior) 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. , giving a detailed account of events (folios 65-79); papers concerning Belgrave's reaction to a Parliamentary question by the Labour MP David Grenfell about the events, and Belgrave's role in them (folios 40-51); and correspondence between the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, the Foreign Office, and other British officials concerning an article in the German press entitled 'Swan Song of the Pearl Divers' by Hans Joachim von Bassewitz, which was highly critical of British handling of the incident (folios 4-38).

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (79 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 81; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 30/69 'Bahrain: Pearling Riots in.' [‎12r] (23/161), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3786, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100037421634.0x000018> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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