مجموعة ٣٠/ ١٨ (١) "الخليج الفارسي: البحرين، الرسوم الجمركية المفروضة على البضائع العابرة؛ موقف ابن سعود" [و‎‎٥‎٢‎٠] (١١٦٢/١٠٤٤)

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In an interview with Sir Arthur Hirtypl nn lof
led on behalf of Sheikh Isa that the latter s h„„ll , 1J19 he p!
demanded on behalf of Sheikh Isa that the latter should*be—*
(a) put on art equality with neighbouring Arab rulers in the exercise
of authority over all persons other than subjects of Great Britain
• x.» safer* w "' - “ ^ *■* s
not less than four members selected by the Political A^ent in
concert with the sheikh];
(c) permitted and assisted to develop the port of Zubarah in El Katr
which he claimed had once belonged to Bahrein (Op. Lorimer •’
Persian Gulf Gazetteer I. i. 814);
(d) given permission to correspond direct with London, should necessity
arise. J
10. After consideration of the views of Capt. Bray, Major Dickson, then
Political Agent, the Political Resident and the Civil Commissioner
Mesopotamia, the Government of India on 5th May 1920* informed Sheikh
Abdulla that the procedure for the selection of the members of the Majlis
was laid down in the Bahrein Order in Council and that it was not within
then competence to alter it, but that in practice the Arab representatives
were understood to be appointed by Sheikh Isa, and that although this
appointment was subject to the approval of the Political Agent as representing
the Protecting Power, the Political Agent would never interfere or refuse his
approval without just cause ; that as regards his third point, the request was
an old one which had received much consideration, and that the Government
of India*remained unable to accede to it in view of the difficulties involved ;
while as regards direct correspondence, the political relations of Bahrein
were conducted with the Government of India and that it was proper
therefore that His Excellency should address them and not His Majesty’s
Government. The} 7 would if necessary forward his correspondence to
His Majesty’s Government. As regards the first and most important request,
the Government of India agreed that he should exercise jurisdiction over
the subjects of other Arab rulers, subject to the formal concurrence of those
rulers. Ibn Saudf, however, and the Sheikh of Katr, the one previously, the
other subsequently, took exception to the exercise of control over their
subjects by the Sheikh of Bahrein, and requested the Political Agent to
exercise the jurisdiction in question. The Political Agent in consequence
issued on 20th November 1920,J a notice that all foreign subjects, including
Persians and subjects of Arab rulers and Chiefs other than those of Bahrein,
were, while in Bahrein, entitled to British protection. The transfer to the
Political Agent of jurisdiction over all foreigners did not improve relations
between the Political Agent and Sheikh Isa, already none too good as a
result of the interference by Government in a dispute between the Sheikh
and Ibn Saud as to the duty to be levied on goods proceeding to Hasa,
consequent on which Sheikh Isa had been compelled to accept 2 per cent,
duty instead of the 5 per cent, which he desired, and in which he regarded
Government as having favoured Ibn Saud at his expense.§
11. This condition of affairs coincided with an internal crisis of a
different character, which was destined to lead up to drastic intervention
by His Majesty’s Government and the deposition of Sheikh Isa. The
difficult situation produced by the Sheikh’s misgovernment, and its reactions
on the position of Great Britain in the Islands, have already been mentioned.
Captain Bray, in May 1919, expressed the opinion that there was in Bahrein
a considerable feeling of hostility to His Majesty’s Government ‘due to
religious, economical, personal and war reasons,” and no British party, and
ffiat the activities of the American missionaries were anti-British. Major
bh R. P. Dickson, C.I.E., a highly qualified officer with a distinguished
record of service in Mesopotamia, who succeeded him as Political Agent,
reported in January 1920that the political situation in Bahrein, while in
no way dangerous, was wholly unsatisfactory ; that there was a strong and
deep-seated anti-British sentiment of long standing, and that British prestige
rested on fear and not on respect. The gross oppression ‘ amounting to
* Letter to Sheikh Abdulla,
D.O. 1145 E.A., May 5
1920, P. 5040.
f P. 5040. Ibn Saud,
Mar. 19 1920; tel. from
C.C., Baghdad, to G. of L,
4601, April 15 1920.
X Desp. from Pol. Res. to
G. of L, No. 2955, para. 28 r
Sept. 1 1927, P. 5668/27.
§ Tel. from Pol. Res. to G.
of I., 1693, Sept. 23 1920,
P. 1931/20.
Capt. Bray to C.C..
Baghdad, May 27 1919,
P. 5040/20.
|| Letter from Major
Dickson to Pol. Res., 0 C.
Jan. 1920, P. 5010.
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