File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎170v] (345/616)

5 As independent ruler of Bahrein, I stood up for the maintenance of
Tny rights and powers against the encroachments and interferences of the
Consulate; and as the keeper and guardian of the rights of my people and the
interests of my State, I resisted the attempts at the exploitation of the State and
its valuable resources by alien agencies backed by the Consulate. Ihe firm
unbending attitude, which I felt it my duty to adopt resulted in the inauguration of a
regime ofmy personal harassment and humiliation and the terrorism of my
people. No complaints of any maladministration or transgression on my part
were made against me by any responsible section of my subjects. The Sunnis
who constitute the large majority of my subjects, and even the Shia minority, all
except a few venal self-seekers ready to be the willing tools of designing mischief-
makers and having the ear of the Consulate, were thoroughly satisfied with my
administration, and the people neither sought nor desired any change. They
repudiated and resented the attempted introduction by the Consulate, under the
name of “ reforms ” of measures distasteful to them and sought to be forced on
them. But disdainful of the people’s protests, the Consul organised a policy
of wholesale fining, imprisonment, and deportation oi my innocent subjects
without any inquiry or charge, the abolition of all law Courts except one,
constituting himself the sole centre of all legislative, judicial, and executive
authority, the replacement of the local police by armed foreigners, the wholesale
ousting of the indigenous Municipal agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. by foreigners, and the forcible
seizure of the State Customs and the transfer of its revenues to an English Bank.
6 . I respectfully submit to your Lordship that the acts of the Consular
Authorities, besides being highly provocative and outraging the sensibilities of a
high-spirited people constituted a grave and indefensible encroachment on my
rights and powers, and an equally indefensible and wanton interference in the
internal affairs of the State, in controvention of treaty obligations resting on the
British Government.
7. These acts were followed by the presentation to me for my signature
of a document drawn up at the Consulate behind my back, and purporting to be
a voluntary offer by me to abdicate the throne in favour of my son. I firmly
declined to be a party to such designs against me which further incensed the
consulate. A photographic reproduction of the said document is annexed and
marked No. I, its English Translation being No. II.
8 . Aggrieved and incensed at these proceedings, my people assembled in
solemn congress representative of all parties and interests passed resolutions
condemning and protesting against these acts, and emphasising their confidence in
my administration and urging its continuance. At such meeting they elected
twelve of the leading and respected citizens as their delegates to represent their
grievances and complaints to the British Authorities.