File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎325r] (37/164)

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Memorandum No. 246.S., dated Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the 28th December 1919.
From—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. , (. y , / t > j
To—The Acting Civil Commissioner and Offg. 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Baghdad. 1
Beference your memoraodum No. 32761-6-15, dated 31st October 1919.
.. , views regarding the three points raised by the Shaikh through Shaikh
Abdullah are as follows :—
(1) In asking for equal rights with other Arab rulers the Shaik for
gets the following points :—
(a) that both he and his father were made Shaikhs by the British
Government, and I think it more than doubtful whether they
would have retained their positions but for the support of
the B-itish Government. It results that the British Govern
ment is responsible for the good government of Behrein to a
greater extent than in the case of other Arab Rulers.
(b) That before the war the Persian and Turkish Governments both
claimed the island as part of their respective empires. But
for British support doubtless one or other would have taken the
island.
■ i
(/?) That the immediate cause of the British assuming charge of
foreign subjects in Behrein was the tyrannical behaviour of
the Shaikh and his relatives to Persian subjects culminating
on an attack on them in 1904 : this was followed almost
immediately by an assault on the German representative of
Wonckhaus and Company. But for our intervention the
Shaikh would have been involved with Persia and Germany.
(d) That his Government is singularly inefficient and weak and is
not nearly as good as most of the other Shaikhs Its tendency
is to exploit the islands and their inhabitants for the benefit
of the Al-Khalifa and one or two leading Arab families. It
shows little sign of improvement.
In the circumstanees, it is hardly to be expected that the Shaikh of
Bahrein should be on exactly the same footing as other Arab chiefs.
As regards the question of subjects of Arab States, the file about the
Bahrein Order-in-Council is not here at present, so I cannot refresh my
inemory. My recollection, however, is that the whole difficulty was about
Hassawis and Kataris from the mainland, i.e., Arabs of immediately neigh
bouring States. I do not think it was intended that Muscatis, Handramahtis, u
Yemanis, etc., should be handed over to the Shaikh’s jurisdiction. I do not
think the Sultan of Muscat contemplates such a thing as this. Muscatis
coming with claims to Bahrein generally get a letter from 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. ,
Muscat, at the request of the Sultan. Bin Saud, in many of his letters to 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. , asks the latter to look alter his subjects, and apparently does
not contemplate their being dealt with by the Shaikh. In the circumstances,
I think that before handing our jurisdiction over Kuwaitis, Muscatis, Handra-
mantis, Yemanis, etc., to the Shaikh, the latter should be asked to produce his
agreements with the Rulers of these places.
(2) It has hitherto always been recognized that the Arab repesentatives
in the Majlis are appointed by the Shaikh, subject to the approval of 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. as representative of the protecting Power. I think this practice
should be continued. 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. would never disapprove of any
suitable man, and the Shaikh has only to refrain from appointing thoroughly
objectionable persons, to enjoy practical freedom from interference in the
matter of his nominees to the Majlis. The procedure is recognized in the
Order-in-Council and should, I think, be maintained.
(3) Zubarah—A note has already been submitted by the 1st Assistant
Resident during my absence on tour which deals with the historical aspect of
the question.