"ملف ‏19/109 II (C 17)‎ البحرين: علاقات الحاكم مع القوى الخارجية الأخرى" [و‎‎١‎١‎٧] (٥٣٤/٢٣٩)

■ ' . M
B.0.1145-E.A. t -
Foreign and Political De"Dartment.
Simla, 5th May 1920,
My Esteemed Friend,
I have the honour to refer to your letter to Sir Arthur
Hirtzel dated the 4th September 1919, in which you reauested -
(1) that your father may have equality with the Arab Rulers in
his neighbourhood in the exercise of authority over all
Arab subjects residing in his territory;
(2) that the s lection of members of the Majlis al Urfi may be
one of his rights like the Shara and Salifah Courts;
(5) that His Majesty's Government will allow to open the port
of Zubarah which he alleges is the territory of his fore-
-— i
fathers; and
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(4) that he may be given the privilege of reference to the
seat of Government in London whenever necessary.
2 # I am directed to inform you that the Government of India
have given these requests their most careful consideration and
I am to make the following reply,
I am to express regret that it is impossible for the Govern
ment of India to accede to the request that your father should
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exercise jurisdiction over the subjects of other Arab Rulers
•residing in Bahrain unless the Rulers concerned themselves make
I i
agreements with your father to this effect.
As to the second request I am to point out that the pro
cedure for the selection of members of the llajlis al Urfi is laid
down in the Bahrain Order-in-Council which was promulgated by
order of Iiis Majesty the King Emperor and it is not within the
competence of the Government of India to alter this procedure.
• j- " *
But it is understood that the Arab representatives in the T a.ilis
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are m practice always appointed by your father and though this
appointment is subject to the approval of the Political Agent as
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representative - o?: t e protecting Power, you may be rest assumed
that the* Political Agent will never disapprove of any proper
selection and will not interfere without just cause.