‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎269v] (537/949)

14
consequence is that he is generally hard put to it to provide himself with funds,
and as you are aware, he has had to farm his oustoms for some years ahead in
order to provide himself with money from bis current expense. The Hindu
Customs farmers have of course taken full advantage of the position and are
reaping large profits, which, if the Chief were a sensible man, ought to go
into his own pockets. It is useless to argue with him in this matter: he is
satisfied with matters as they are, and the fact that his son will succeed to an
embarrassed property does not trouble him in any way ; “ after me the deluge ’*
is his motto ; all he wants is to be left in peace for the remaining years of his
life and he trusts to fate and the British Government to arrange matters after
his death. This, in my opinion, is fair to no one, and I think that the Chief
should now be told that the system of farming his customs does not commend
itself to the Government of India and must be changed. There is no desire to
curtail the Chief’s independence in any way; all we want to see is that the
Chief himself should be relieved from his difficulties, and that the affairs of his
state should not be embarrassed when his son succeeds him. We have no desire
to take over the management of his customs : this will remain in the Chief’s
hand as heretofore. All that is desired is that the Customs should be efficiently
managed in the interests of the Chief himself and of trade generally. As the
Chief has no one who is sufficiently conversant with customs matters, we desire
to lend him the services of a trained Customs officer, who will recognize the
Department for him and be under his orders generally so far as the management
of the Department is concerned.
This is not the place to enter into details of the scheme which will of
course have to be dealt with officially and which will, I feel confident, present
no insuperable difficulties, if the Chief’s sentimental objection that his inde
pendence is being aimed at is disregarded, as it may, in my opinion, very fairly
be. Sooner or later the change must be made, and although, from motives
of personal regard for the Chief, I would prefer that his inclinations should
not be so directly opposed and that the change should come after his death,
still for all we know he is good for another twenty years of life, and I am
satisfied that early steps in the matter should be taken both from considera
tions of the political situations at Bahrein and of the future welfare of the
islands. With the customs virtually in our hands, that is to say, managed
by us for the Chief’s benefit, we should be able to remove various inconve
niences, such as, for instance, the high transhipment fees, we should gain
more knowledge of the trade situation and we should make our protectorate
clear to the Turks and to the world at large. It is possible that it may not
be deemed necessary or advisable that this matter should be brought forward
during the Viceroy’s visit. I have, however, considered it necessary to place
my views before you, as you have asked me to indicate whether any modi
fication or expansion of the status quo is desirable. A clear direction to
the Chief in this matter and the consequent change in the management of the
customs is, of course, a very distinct modification of the status quo as being
a direct interference by us in the municipal affairs of the islands, but it is at
the same time, I feel sure, the best solution for British interests and for the
matter of that for the interests of Bahrein as well. Probably the Chief, if he
is permitted to do so, will wish to mention certain matters to the Viceroy, such
as the murder of his relative Sheikh Selam bin Diaij, his desire to arm a boat
to pursue pirates, and the succession of his eldest son. If he brings forward
this latter matter, the opportunity may perhaps be taken to renew the promise
which has been made regarding his son’s succession and to inform the Chief
that, in view of this and past favours shown to the Chief by the British Gov
ernment, the Chief on his part is expected not to be remiss in accepting the
advice which is offered to him in matters which are really for his own benefit.
The Viceroy is aware that the Chief’s finances are not as satisfactory as they
might be, and that these might readily be ameliorated by an improvement in
the customs management which would secure for the Chief’s own requirements
and for the needs of his Government. His Excellency therefore trusts that the
Chief will listen to such advice as the Resident may be instructed to give him
in this connection.
Koweit, the next place on the programme, is 246 miles from Bahrein and
will be reached on the afternoon of the 29 th November. The Chief’s visit to
His Excellency might be paid on the morning of the 30 th, the Chief having