File 4673/1919 Pt 3 ‘Persian Gulf: Bahrein Mission to England 1919. Political business of Mission’ [‎327r] (41/164)

No, 10, dated Bahrein, the 10th January 1020.
From— Major H. R. P. 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. ,
To—His Excellency Shaikh Sir Isa Bin Ali Al Khalipah, K.C I.E., C.S.I.
Ruler of Bahrein.
After compliments. 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on his
recent visit to Bahrein, asked me how the work of the Majlis al Urfi was
getting on. Tour friend had to express regret and to inform him that the
sitting of the Majlis had not taken place from the day that Shaikh Abdullah
Your Excellency’s son, left for England with Captain Bray, M.C. The Resident
requested me to communicate with Your Excellency with a view to arranging
for the meetings of the said Majlis to again take place in Manamah as had
formerly been arranged between Your Excellency and my predecessor. Indeed
the fact that the Majlis al Urfi has not been sitting for so long has caused
much extra work to be thrown on the Joint Court, consisting of Your
Excellency’s representative and myself, and on each occasion it has sat, the
court has with great difficulty settled the number of cases which would nor
mally have been sent to the Majlis al Urfi.
Under the circumstances and acting under the instructions of 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. and I am now to w r rite to Your Excellency and request that
you may see fit to order the Majlis al Urfi to again sit as before. The place
of assembly to be Customs House as before. I further beg to inform Your
Excellency that the following five people have been selected by me to represent
the foreign community in the Majlis :—
(1) Muhammad Sharif, K.S.
(2) Abdul Aziz Qusaibi.
(3) Seth Maharaj.
(4) Hafiz Khanbai Muhammad Ali.
(5) Seth Buddha al Banyan Merchant of Indian extraction. .
I hope Your Excellency will approve of their selection. Should you not
•do so, I will be obliged if you will inform me. Similarly I would like you to
inform your friend of the names of five members from Your Excellency’s
^subjects whom Your Excellency would like to represent you.
Your Excellency having approved of the ten names I trust will inform
me the date of the first sitting. I myself suggest Thursday, the 14th January
( {22nd Rabi al Thani) at 10 a m., as suitable for the first day’s sitting, and
^thereafter on each successive Thursday.
Your friend will himself always send a Naib to be present with the Majlis
al Urfi w 7 hen it sits, and doubts wdiether Your Excellency will do the same.
Usual ending. \ * .
Translation of a letter> dated 21st Rabi Al Thani (13th January 1920), from
His Excellency Shaikh Sir ’Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifah, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.,
Ruler of Bahrein, to Major H. R. P. Dickson, Q.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.
After compliments. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter No. 10, dated the 18th Rabi al Thani (10th January 1920) regarding the
meeting of the Majlis al Urfi and the election of its members, and in order
that it may not be hidden from you I may state that on the occasion of the
visit of my son Shaikh Abdullah to England, I instructed him m submit certain
proposals which had pre-occupied my thoughts to His Majesty’s Government
for their consideration, and among these the question of the Majlis al Urfi and
the election of its members was also included, and m connexion w r ith which
he had some discussion with Sir Arthur H^rtzel, who promised an answer to
them and asked him to submit the same in w r riting which my son accordingly
did, and of which I am n.ow r sending your honour a copy, and hoping from the
justice of His Majesty’s Government and their equity that they will support
my hopes.