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File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎315r] (17/164)

The record is made up of 1 item (83 folios). It was created in 6 Aug 1919-12 Aug 1920. 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. .

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No. 3560-6-14-, dated Baghdad, the 30th January 1920.
From— Bbevbt Lieutenant-Colonel A. T. Wilson, C.S.I., C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O.,
Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department. *
I enclose herewith, for the information of the Government of India, copies
Demi-ofilciil letter, dated 27th May 1919, from Mr. Norman ^ marginally noted
N. E Br»y, on Board “ l.nwrence,” to Brevet Lieatennt-Colonel Correspondence which has
a. r. Wilson, civil Commissioner, Baghdad. passed between. Political
Derai-offi• ial letter, dated 17th June 1919, from Mr. G. H. Bill,
Deputy Po'.iiiial Resident, Lushire, to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel
A. T- Wilson, Civil Co nm ssiun r, naghlal.
Memoran tarn No. d-C. of oth Jinuiry 1920, from Po'itical Agent r
Bahrei i, to Civil Co.nmissioner, Bighdti, with onc.loture.
If printed I shall be glad of tea copies.
Agent, Bahrein, Deputy
Political Pesident,
Bushire, and this office in
regard to the state of
affairs at Bahrein.
Demi-official, dated Board “ Lawrence,” the 27th May 1919.
From —Norman N. E. Bray, Esq ,
To— Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel A. T. Wilson, C.S.I., C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O.,
Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
*****
I find the following matters at Bahrein very unsatisfactory and consider
we should attempt to rectify them.
1 . I find a considerable feeling of hostility to ourselves due to religious,
economical, personal and war reasons, assisted in a negative way by the
missionaries. Also there is a considerable party hostile to the Shaikh and
consequently to ourselves. In contrast to this I find no British party and a
general lack of touch especially with those hostile to ourselves.
Proposed remedy ( 1 ) Half-monthly majlis to explain any matter of
importance, to act as a vent for public opinion, to hear grievances and to bring
the Agent into closer touch with British subjects and Foreigners.
2. More entertaining especially of those hostile or supposedly so ; up to the
present these have been excluded from association with the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . This I
hold to be wrong policy, as an odd word may give warning of trouble, or a
sentence enable an action to be anticipated.
3. The definite formation of a British party by indirect methods, such as
rewards, which jou have kindly agreed to, by closer association, and by visits,
by letters of appreciation from yourself or Mr. Bill, in really deserved
instances, through schools, presents and literature.
(b) The extraordinary backwardness of the place considering its long
association with ourselves.
I propose to improve the water supply T Capital a i t£ady promised.
To get electrical plant. ) 1
Start the municipality cn sound lines ; at present it is only a pretence.
Import fruit trees suitable to climate and soil and trees.
(c) The ignorance of even the highest classes. School immediately <
imperative and strong support offered, hut must be under control of Political
Agent.
(d) Local industries practically non-existent. I propose to enquire
seriously into pearl button machinery, and, if practicable, to introduce. Also
to start small industrial school.
As regards (&), (<?) and (<i) any amount of capital is available and at
present lying idle.
( 0 ) The American missionaries. I am not at all satisfied that the American ^
Government is not behind their activities. I will give full details as far as
I have gone in report.
-

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This part contains papers relating to the visit of Mission (deputation) from Bahrein [Bahrain] to the United Kingdom in 1919. It includes correspondence regarding the reception of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, son of Shaikh Isa of Bahrein, and Abdullah’s son Muhammad-bin-Abdulla by King George V at Buckingham Palace, London, on 6 August 1919.

Much of the correspondence also relates to the reception of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah by Sir Arthur Hirtzel, Assistant Under-Secretary of State for India, on 1 September 1919, and a subsequent letter from Abdullah to Hirtzel, in which Abdullah states that he has been instructed by his father to make four proposals to the British Government regarding Bahrein, and the response of the British Government to these proposals.

The main correspondents include: 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. ; the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad (‘Political, Baghdad’); Shaikh Sir Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifah, Ruler of Bahrain; 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. , Bahrain; the Secretary to the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; 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 Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and the Deputy 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 Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

The part includes a letter in Arabic from Sir Isa bin Ali al Khalifah, Ruler of Bahrain, to King George V (folios 385 and 386), which has been translated into English.

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1 item (83 folios)
Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎315r] (17/164), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/850/3, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100074780349.0x000029> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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