Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud' [526v] (1057/1162)
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.
4
■7
P
a
t
P. 900/22.
f d) Appointment of an Adviser to the Shaikh.
(e) Reformed Courts.
(f) Reforms in connection with the pearl fishery.
(g) Survey.
(h) Public Works.
(i) Education.
(j) Reform of the Waqfs.
I will take the above seriatim.
(a) Before and during the war Bahrain was notorious for its unhealthy climate-
the stench was indescribable and plague visited it every alternate year. In the
course of years the people of Manama, the chief trading town, had been becoming
more and more enlightened by contact with the outside world. A demand for greater
cleanliness arose, and in spite of the opposition of Shaikh Isa, the demand, backed by
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partly nominated by the Ruler and partly elected—are presided over by Shaikh
Hamad’s brother. 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.
and the Adviser attend the meetings, but take
little part in the proceedings unless asked for guidance.
In 1920 a considerable part of the population looked upon the Manama
municipality as an objectionable foreign innovation, but it is now recognised as a
valuable portion of the administration. The Muharraq municipality was established
in 1927 in consequence of popular demand, without consulting 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.
.
People recognise that if the municipalities were abolished filth and plague would
return.
The benefit derived from the presence’at municipal meetings of the Political
Agent and the Adviser, who have no vote, is to lend a certain decorum to the
proceedings, which otherwise have a tendency to become pandemonium. They do
not interfere unduly, and their complete withdrawal from interest in municipal affairs
would be unpopular.
(b), (c) and (d) have already been treated in paras. 4 and 5 above.
(e) Major Daly’s report on the state of affairs in 1921 shows the conditions from
which Bahrain was rescued. These conditions were largely due to the lack of any
Court of Law which could deal efficiently with offenders. The minor members of
the Khalifa family terrorised the people just as they wished. The Qadhis were
corrupt or impotent.
A good Court of Law was a crying need, but the difficulty was to find a suitable
magistrate. At first 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.
(Major Daly) sat as adviser to the local
magistrate, but with the arrival of Mr. Belgrave he resigned his position to the latter.
At present there are the following Courts functioning in Bahrain :—
(1) ihe Joint Court, on which the Ruler and 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.
sit to hear cases,
civil and criminal, involving foreign and Bahrain subjects in which the latter
are defendants. There is also a small Joint Court presided over by the
Indian Assistant and a minor x\l Khalifa.
(2) The Political Agent’s Court, for the trial of all cases in which foreigners are
concerned.
(3) The Court of Shaikh Sulairnan, eldest son of Shaikh Hamad, assisted and
advised by Mr. Belgrave, for the trial of Bahrain subjects.
(4) Ihe Small Cause Court, conducted by a minor member of the A1 Khalifa.
In the first case all disputes are referred to one or other of these Courts. They
usually deal themselves with criminal cases, though a considerable number are referred
to the Qadhis for settlement by the taking of oath. Civil cases, almost without
exception, are referred to the Qadhis, the Majlis al Urfi or the Salifah Court for
opinion. 'Judgment usually follows the opinion.
The indigenous Courts are :—
(a) The Court of the Qadhis—Sunni or Shiah as the case may be.
(b) The Majlis al Urfi.
(c) The Salifah or Diving Court.
The Qadhis are the usual Islamic Courts having jurisdiction in all personal matters,
divorces, inheritances, &c. They often advise in criminal matters, but their peculiar
aws of evidence and the sharp differences between Shiah and Sunni make it impossible
to hand criminal justice completely over to them.
The Majlis al Urfi is the Court dealing with the customary law of trade. R 18
commercial Court and all disputed commercial cases are referred to it. There aie
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
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Coll 30/18(1) 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein, Customs dues on goods in transit; attitude of Ibn Saud' [526v] (1057/1162), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3728, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066005515.0x00003a> [accessed 23 May 2024]
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- 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