File 4535/1928 Pt 8 ‘ – PERSIAN GULF – QUESTION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTORATES OVER KOWEIT, BAHREIN, MUSCAT, TRUCIAL COAST.’ [‎93r] (179/194)

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t‘f) ^hl'th i ISa S J ll0U . 1< ? l 56 em P ower ed to select the bench of magistrates
4 Sheikh Z S1Vm * P° rt at Zubarail >" Qatar. g '
( •) . e kh Isa should be given permission to correspond direct with London.
r- for which' 1 SheiKa^d r ntS t , The f lrst two were P art of the sentiment
H “ ■“ arJfSSsl %Jr* -
bv letter throng fhi ’ i^ &ecretar 7 of State f or India informed Sheikh Abdulla
previous’year quoted •AnveTh^r’’ that ’ Wlth reference t0 his first demand of the
p , , , y a . r ’ quoted above, the Government agreed that the Sheikh of TGhrein
should exercise jurisdiction over the subjects of other Arab rulers provided that
.lurisdPctionTn question had ln re <i uested him t° oxe'rcise the
I he Sheikh of Qatar sent a similar request.
all f ^ P olltical a g ent a ccordmgly issued a notice on the 20th November 1920 that
all foreign subjects, including Persians and subjects of Arab rulerlTnd chiefs o her
than^those of Bahrem, are, while residing m Bahrein, entitled to the protection of
^ majesty s Government. ^ Thus jurisdiction over all foreigners passed to tho
hm smartmT' The sltllation naturally caused friction with Sheikh Isa and left
.O'
• . ln J 9 ? 1 Ma j° r D aly who had succeeded as 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. summed ud the
situation m Bahrein in the following terms e a up tne
Sheikh fsa s wife holds a regular court and imprisons and punishes at
Justice 'Th s a r l ?l a h dlSregard ° . the . most elementary laws o/even Arab
justice The Sahfeh divan court has degenerated into a single venal iudo-e
owing to Sheikh Isa having become deeply indebted to Rashid-bin-Mohanna
..a disturbing element is the rapid increase of the family of A1 Khalifeh
educate^he^for aSkccupS^^ 86 ' membel ' S and n ° attempt is made to
h, P re j vl0 usly reported the gross oppression practised on the Shiahs
by the A1 Khalifeh, and especially by Sheikh Abdulla-bin-Isa, who had his father
and mother s complete confidence and consequently ruled Bahrein
A l/ 1 . 1 ; m the rising discontent frightened Sheikh Abdulla, and Sheikh Isa
h,Tsh kW h - elr S r el ^ Ham n d to ‘ ake over the contro1 of affairs under his orders
k L h l w a S '!i lbe .’. h6 m0t , her ° f Abdu ll a . kept such a tight hand over things
tnat ^ neikn Mamad was powerless to make any changes.
In December 1921 discontent in Bahrein had reached such a pitch that as the
Resident reported to the Government of India, a deputation of Bahreinis presented
him with an appeal against the tyranny existing. presented
a utw e J*? Sid< ! nt ’ C ° l0nel Trev ° r ’ suggested that 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. should be
authorised to intervene m cases of glaring tyranny and to give individual protection
pending enquiry when necessary. r
fi 31 1 -i Kar P ad and Abdulla took alarm at the attitude of the people and
anxiouq^fnr ff Pn1, 192 iP Daly T aS able t0 rep ° rt that the sheikhsI a PPeared
anxmus for reform, as the Shiahs were becoming restive. He had warned Sheikh Isa
tnat tie could expect no assistance in the event of disturbances.
nffln \ a i! S ? re P orte ^ that ^ders had been passed for the opening of a Government
* r tbtWO for dealing with public business, and that a regular
court had been established for the disposal of cases.
3 2- On this the Government informed the Resident that they did not desire
to be drawn into interference between the ruler of Bahrein and his subjects ....
tnat nothing should be done to encourage the idea that the reforms were beino*
introduced at Government dictation. s
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. reported that the sheikhs, frightened at the attitude of the
sunnis, had drawm back from their reforms, and that some Shiahs were advocating
open rebellion and were said to be importing arms. &
A week later, in July 1922, the Government of India asked the Resident whether,
as the sheikh would not act, pressure should not be applied owing to the o-mss
injustice and the victimisation of Shiahs.
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