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File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎317r] (21/164)

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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9
Of course, the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and Qatar Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. would have to go slow
in the matter of schools* etc., for some years, but if Bahrein is to be the model
Arab Principality, 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. , Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , could work slowly up
to the model.
Mascat. —I need hardly mention ; there are enough schemes on foot for its
development.
Persian Mekran is a source of continual anxiety to me. There can be no
doubt that the whole province is in a thoroughly unsatisfactory state, and
unless we assert ourselves in some forcible way, it will not be possible to carry
out the annual repairs of the land line next cold weather. I only propose at the
moment a repetition of Keyes’ Mission, with a commission to report cn the
best political arrangements for the future. But something of the kind abso
lutely must be done, unless Government prefers the obvious alternative of
abandoning the land line (we could not pull it up, without an armed party), and
laying an additional cable. Here again I think we shall find ourselves obliged
to spend rather more money, and have permanent political representation.
This would be better justified, in that I am sure the solid and responsible
elements among the Baluchis would welcome it, as a good excuse for dropping
their wearisome and expensive feuds.
Finally, of course, if we are going in for a general civilising mission in
these waters, the coastal tract from Lingah to Bushire offers an excellent, and
absolutely vergin, field. But I think the above sketch provides enough for the
time being ; and the susceptibilities of the Tehran Government would doubt
less be outraged by our attempting to do any good lor their nominal
subjects.
Memorandum No. 6-C., dated Bahrein, the 5th January 1920. {Secret.)
From — Major H. K. V. Dickson, C.I.E., 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. , Bahrein,
T j" The Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
l0 ~*bThe Deputy Political Besident, Bushire.
The attached note on the existing political situation in Bahrein is for
warded for information.
The note is compiled from close personal study and observation of the
peonle of Bahrein during the last two months, also for valuable material left
behind by my predecessor Captain N. N. E. Bray, M.C.
Note on the political situation in Bahrein as existing at the end of 1919,
with suggestions and proposals for improving the situation.
1 I arrived in Bahrein on November 6th, 1919, and since my arrival I have
taken pains to try and get at the bottom of the curious atmosphere of hosti
lity which seems to exist everywhere in Bahrein for the foreigner and more
especially towards the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . To accomplish my purpose I have spent much
time interviewing persons, great and small, and have taken special caie to get
at the confidence of people by frequent visits and dinner parties at the houses
of residents of all shades of opinion, both neutral, Sunni and Shiah T have
also been largely helped in my investigations by riding ronna among the many
hamlets of the Island and chatting over a cup of coffee with the local head
man surrounded by his villagers m the local guest chamber. The general
conclusions that I have arrived at are enumerated below.
2. In my opinion— • • »
(a) The political atmosphere of Bahrein while not in any way dangerou \
is wholly unsatisfactory. . \
(b) There is a strong anti-British sentiment which is long standing and
deepseated.
(c) British prestige rests on entirely false standards, namely onjear and
T nrm oi Hpr finr
not on respect, ,, , . ,.
fwsrrTfTprpfnrft both extremely difficult, yet imperative.

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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’ [‎317r] (21/164), 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_100074780349.0x00002d> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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