Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud' [446r] (896/1162)
The record is made up of 1 volume (576 folios). It was created in 23 Apr 1920-31 Oct 1934. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
T3
- 10 -
Most unfortunate, for them. xhe Bahrain Government have sunk
a great deal of money in the port and appointed a British
Customs Director and Port Officer and they are entitled to an
adequate return for their outlay apart from any consideration
of revenue.
2?. The Bahrain Government must, however, be careful to
avoid killing the goose which would not be so very difficult,
for with adequate buoying and piers Ras Tan^rah could be turned
into a port that would take a great deal of trade away from
Bahrain. Whether they could persuade steamers to go there or
not is another matter, but I believe that it could be done.
I do not consider that they are likely to do this as long as the
RE Export duty is maintained as low as 2^ and I do not think
that the withdrawal of the transhipment concession will be suffi
cient to incite them to develop Ras lan^rah. At the present
moment, there is little doubt that they could not afford it.
23. I am advising Shaikh Hamad that he should await a reply
from you before denouncing Shaikh Isa’s letter since it was
based on the orders of the Government of India. I considers
(a) Since the arrangement is based on a letter and not
on a treaty or formal undertaking he can abrogate it
at will, the more particularly since he received no
quid pro quo and conditions have changed.
(b) Baiirain is an independent State and entitled to do
what it pleases in territorial waters® The tranship
ment traffic must be controlled even if only to prevent
smuggling* Since there are often 50 or more ships in
harbour this cannot be done without expense.
(c) International practice means nothing in these primitive
countries, and is only used by Bin Baud as ammunition
against us and not as a guide to be followed. Bahrain
is sui generis for no where else that I am aware of
do leading merchants of one country live in and transact,
their country's trade from another*
24© I request therefore, that His Majesty King Bin Baud may be
informed that the Bahrain Government regret that they are obliged
to
• • •
About this item
- Content
This volume contains correspondence between British officials regarding complications around the payment of transit fees to Bahrain (sometimes written as Bahrein in the file) by Saudi Arabia and its precursor states, the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz (1926-1932) and the Sultanate of Nejd (1921-27). The correspondence also discusses relations between the two countries generally and the role of Britain.
The correspondence is between officials at 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. , Foreign Office, Board of Trade, British Legation in Jeddah, Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain. A limited amount of correspondence is also contained with non-British individuals including the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, some of which is in Arabic (with English translations).
In addition to correspondence, the volume contains occasional extracts from Intelligence Reports compiled by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain and the following documents:
- 'Draft Record of a Meeting held at the Foreign Office on Monday October 8th, regarding relations between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain' (folios 12-24)
- 'Visit of a Japanese Ship to Bahrain' 1934. (folios 69-70)
- 'Minutes of a Meeting held at 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. on 6th April to discuss the question of Bahrain Transit Dues' (folios 266-272)
- 'Memorandum on the Bahrein Transit Dues Question' (folios 280-289)
- Translation of Chapter Eight ('Concerning Goods in Transit') of the Hejazi Customs Regulations (folios 483-484)
- an 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. memorandum entitled 'Bahrein, 1908-1928' (folios 519-524)
- an 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. memorandum entitled 'Question of British Interference in the Administration of Bahrain' (folios 525-528)
- 'Treaty of Peace with Turkey: Draft Clauses Relating to Ports, Waterways and Railways' (folios 555-558)
- Article 4 of 'Terms of a Friendly Convention entered into Between Shaikh Mahomed bin Khalifah, Independent Ruler of Bahrain, on the part of himself and Successors and Captain Felix Jones, Her Majesty's Indian Navy, 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. of Her Britannic Majesty in the Gulf of Persia, on the Part of the British Government, 1861' (folio 576).
The volume includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (576 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 579; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud' [446r] (896/1162), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3728, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066005514.0x000061> [accessed 28 March 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066005514.0x000061
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066005514.0x000061">Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud' [‎446r] (896/1162)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066005514.0x000061"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000124/IOR_L_PS_12_3728_0896.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000124/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3728
- Title
- Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:179v, 184r:230v, 232r:232v, 235r:325v, 331r:334v, 337r:367v, 371r:411v, 413r:423v, 425r:447v, 453r:482v, 485r:490v, 494r:498v, 501r:527v, 528v:537v, 541r:554v, 559r:575v, 577r:578v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence