Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎42v] (84/678)

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I
T Hid. (Pro. No. 31).
•• Secret E., January 1S01, Nos. 108-110 (Pro.
Nos. 108 and 109).
ft Secret E., April 1901. Nos. 14-15.
Bahrein Customs.
' Secret E., November 1898, Nos. 524-535.
6. The question of the succession to the Chiefship of Bahrein to which
reference has been made above was first
Bahrein succession. raised in the year 1897, when the son.
Earned, of the present Sheikh visited 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
• See Secret E., November 1898, Nos. 524-535 Gulf and broached the Subject to him.
(Pro. No. 526 ). Colonel Meade told* Sheikh Earned that
it would be necessary, in the first place, for his father to address him. In
+ (Pro. No. 528). February 1898,f the Chief of Bahrein
t ibid. (t-ro. No. 527 ). wrote to the Resident, and Colonel MeadeJ
forwarded the letter to Government, and urged the advisability of recognising
Sheikh Earned as successor-designate to the Chiefship. The Government of
§ jw<z. (Pro. No. 534 ). India forwarded§ Colonel Meade’s recom-
II secret k., March 1899, Nos. 27-31 (Pro. No. 27 ). mendation to the Secretary of State, and
Lord George Hamilton approved || of the proposed recognition of Sheikh Earned
as successor-designate to the Chiefship.
The Resident was directed^" to inform
the Sheikh of Bahrein accordingly. The
Sheikh, however, was not officially notified
of the decision till 1901,** when he was informedff by Colonel Kemball.
7. As regards the suggested appointment of a British Customs officer,
the facts are as follows:—In October 1897,*
Colonel Meade, then Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in a demi-official letter, dated
2nd October, suggested taking over the
management of the Bahrein Customs from
the Sheikh. Sir Williamf Cuningham,
in reply, approved of the suggestion. Nothing, however, came of it.
8. When the question of recognising the Sheikh’s eldest son as successor-
designate to the Chiefship of Bahrein was
referred| to the Secretary of State, the
opportunity to mention the question of
the Customs. His Lordship in reply§
... remarked—“ I approve also your proposal
to inform the .Sheikh in general terms that you would welcome some improved
arrangements in respect to the Customs ; and I am of opinion that the loan of
a qualified officer to manage that department would be of considerable advan-
II md. (Pro. No. 3 i). ta ge Colonel Meade was directed|j
, . . . „ , to “ endeavour to induce the Sheikh
to improve his Customs arrangements preferably by persuading him to apply
to the Government of India for the loan of a qualified officer to control the
cicpartniGD t •
9. In May 1901,f Sir N. O’Conor addressed His Majesty’s Government
on the expediency of a British or British
Indian suoject being appointed Director
of the Bahrein Customs. Colonel Kemball
was thereupon directed** to see if he
, . , . ^ , could induce the Sheikh to entrust Hip
management of his Customs to Government if the latter could see their wav to
advance the Sheikh a sum of money to enable him to clear off his obligations
tt Ibid. (Pro. No. 376). to the Customs farmer. Colonel Kemball
With the Sheikrbut + did a not™ndSftht d
but that he had instructed the Assistant Political A»ent at th»T 13 . , *
from such anwran^ment'” 8 UP ° n ^ Ch ‘ e£ ^ a ^ Tan ' ta S l!s tha t would Mcrue
10. The Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. again referred {{ to the question in his
ttnid. (Pro. No. 373). letter No. 147, dated 16th August 1901
when he said that he thought that the
t md.
t Ibid. (Pro. No. 534).
Government of India took
the
§ Secret E„ March 1899, Nos. 27-31 (Pro. No. 27).
T Secret E., October 1901, Nos. 368-386 (Annex
1 to Pro. No. 368). '
*• Ibid. (Pro. No. 369).