File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎201r] (406/616)

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tl e Political A^ent. It would be convenient if the answer could be sent prior to, or
b t t k e time"of, Colonel Prideaux’s arrival, as the Shaikh and mischief-makers at
Bahrain are certain to petition and agitate on a change of Resident just as they did
vlieii l returned from leave, and if an unfavourable reply to the Shaikh’s petition
''ere delivered before or at Colonel Prideaux’s first visit to the Island it would go
far to silence the clamour. In any case it would not be advisable unless circum
stances urgently demand it—for my successor to visit Bahrain until he can take
with him an answer from the Government of India to Shaikh Isa’s petition,which
will I trust be to the effect that they have nothing to add to the communications
already made to him.
Copy forwarded with compliments to 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, for inform
ation.
EticIosutc of ScTial No. (^)*—Comment on Memorial from Shaikh Sir Isa
Bin Ali Al Khalifa, K.C.S.I., of Bahrain, to His Excellency the
Viceroy, dated 13th February 1924.
When the memorial was forwarded to Government it was not thought neces
sary to make any comment as each and every matter connected with the mis-
government of Shaikh Isa and the reforms which were initiated in June 1923 under
the instructions of His Majesty’s Government have been reported to the Government
of India. But as comment has now been called for, the following remarks are
offered taking the paragraphs of Shaikh Isa's memorial seriatim.
1 . After the words “ installed on the throne ” Shaik Isa has omitted to put
“ by the British Government ” and inserted “ by the will and approbation, etc.”
for which, as far as is known, there is no authority.
2 . Subject to the proviso that the government of the Shaiks is reasonably
good and not such as to bring odium on the Protecting Power. . Shaikh sa as
not got to go farther than the removal of his predecessor a,nd his own elevation
to the Shaikhdom for precedent for interference by the British Governmen .
is common report in Bushire that Shaik Isa was installed as Shaikh on condi ion
that he ruled well and with justice. r l hough 1 have no official confirmation o is,
it is so commonly believed and stated in Bushire, and such a likely con i ion
for Sir Lewis Pelly to have made, that I believe it to be correct.
3 . Shaikh has omitted reference to misgovernment which is a recognized
mason for interference by the Protecting Power.
4 . Shaikh describes h’s rule as “ peaceful and popular , it has been peaceful
from outside aggression thanks to the protection of the British Governmen , u
by no means so internally for the indigenous population who ^ ve een 1
treated, looted and murdered by Shaikh Isa and with perfect impunity by even
member of his own family and all the petty Shaikhs of the Al Khalifa who desired
to act in such a wav ; and popular with a.small section of the Sunm tribal heads
and nakhudas because they could do what they liked. It is emp latica y unpop
lar with the Shiah majority as countless petitions and reports have shown.
5. No “ consul ” as far as is known has ever reported favourably on Shaikh
Isas Government. “Toleration” would describe ^the feelings o mos o
consuls ” better than “ friendliness and goodwill.
6. Before coming to Bahrain Major Daly was serving in Mesopotamia fr
three years ; there is no evidence he ‘ conceived a serious disuke tor tne Arao
people.” “Forcing on me inadmissible concessions, apparent} leers
proposed oil concession to the D’Arcy Exploration Compan}. •
*11 that was done was to endeavour to make the Shaikh adhere o i p _
not to grant a concession to a company not approved by the ritis m
and to give one rather to the D’Arcy Company, whose application had been
wo years earlier, rather than the Eastern Syndicate. 1 e a r b -
tbe extraordinary plea of old age. etc.”— far from extraordinary m vie i
cord. “Wholesale fining, imprisonments, and deportations means as regard*
ts?’ c . 221 F.D.
(3J