'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎143r] (290/386)

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into a naval base. While anchored off the neighbouring Persian port of Lingah,
I entertained the Salar-i-Moazzam to a
Enclosure No v. dinner on hoard the “ Hardinge,’* and the
remarks which I made in proposing the health of his sovereign are among the
enclosures to this letter. Nothing could exceed the cordiality of the relations
that prevailed.
9. Prom Lingah I again crossed to the Arab Coast of the Gulf, where I
spent two days in the harbour of Bahrein. The Chief of these islands, who has
now ruled fora period of 3(i years,owes his position, his immunity from attack
and from the warfare and bloodshed of earlier days, and the increasing prosperity
of Bahrein (which appears to be capable of very considerable further develop,
ment) exclusively to the British Protectorate. The latter has on many occa
sions been asserted by His Majesty’s Government and admits of no dispute. It
is the main, if not the sole, guarantee for the commercial expansion of which
the place seems to be undoubtedly susceptible. It has been further empha
sized in recent years by the recognition in 1899 by the Government of India,
with the sanction of your predecessor, of the Sheikh’s eldest son, Sheikh named,
as his successor-designate to the Chiefship of the State. The Shiekh himself is
of a conservative disposition, and he would gladly see no changes male in any.
thing in his time, and be left to die in peace. In the private interview which
I accorded to him, one or two local subjects were discussed, and in pursuance
of the authority more than once given to me by the Secretary of State. I then
pressed upon the Sheikh an improvement in the administration of his Customs.
If this be not undertaken before long, the State will become seriously embar
rassed by the personal indebtedness of its head. I intimated to the Sheikh that
the reform which was entirely in the interests of himself and his son could not
he permanently postponed : and that I should expect proposals to be submitted
to me by the Resident in consultation with him.
10. While at Bahrein I thought it likely that I might receive a visit from
Sheikh Ahmed-bin-Thani of El Katr, about whom I had been in correspondence
with you. Had I met him I should have acted in accordance with the instruc
tions contained in your telegram of 18th November. The Sheikh, however,
did not receive Colonel Kemball’s invitation in time to attend.
11. On the 28th November, the squadron arrived at Koweit, and I spent two
days at this interesting place. Sheikh Mubarak was unaffectedly flattered and
reioiced at my visit, and he exerted himself to receive me with all the limited
resources of which his people and town were capable. My entry mto Koweit
in a carriage with the Sheikh (the only vehicle in the place) surrounded by a
galloping and shouting cavalcade of Arab horsemen and camelmen, between
fines of thousands of the inhabitants, and groups of women uttering shrill
cries, was one of the most picturesque incidents of the tour.
12. In your letter of 6th November you expressed the opinion that it was
inevitable that the Sheikh should be anxious to receive from me assurances of
support in excess of those already given to him. I had myself entertained
some such apprehension. But here, as at Maskat, I found that the \ isit itself,
quite apart from any fresh promises or engagements, was regarded by the ruler
as finally binding him to our cause, and as setting the seal upon the protec
tion and overlordship of the British Power. I was accordingly relieved from
the position, anticipated by you as one of special difficulty, of either having to
listen to embarrassing questions or to give embarrassing answers. It is true
that in his private conversation with me the Sheikh after stating explicitly
that he had^severod all connection with the Turks, and that he repudiated
relations with any other Power than the British, asked that he might receive
from us a title oi decoration and an allowance. But these favours were evi.
dentlv sought as ratification of a relationship regarded by the Sheikh as already
in existence rather than as the initial steps in a new and more defined regime :
and they were merely the corollary of his action at the official reception at
the previous day, when, upon receiving a sword at my hands as his khilat or
gift, he asked for a belt with which to gird it on, as he had now become a