'Historical Summary of Events in Territories of the Ottoman Empire, Persia and Arabia affecting the British Position in the Persian Gulf, 1907-1928' [‎33r] (72/188)

63
IE h
' I
* Letter to Sheikh Abdulla,
D.O. 1145 E.A., May 5
1920, P. 5040.
King. In an interview with Sir Artliur Hirtzel on 1st September 1919 he ^ ett er from i .o. tr, g . of i.,
demanded on behalf of Sheikh Isa that the latter should be— b0I,r ' 16 1919 ' i>f>49/ia
{a) put on an equality with neighbouring Arab rulers in the exercise
of authority over all persons other than subjects of Great Britain
and the Great European Powers, and so over Arabs other than
subjects of Bahrein ;
(6) empowered to select the bench of magistrates [under the Bahrein
Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. the Majlis-el-Urf, or Civil Court, is composed of
not less than four members selected by 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. in
concert with the Sheikh];
(c) permitted and assisted to develop the port of Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. in El Katr,
which he claimed had once belonged to Bahrein (Cp. Lorimer :
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Gazetteer I. i. 814);
{cl) given permission to correspond direct with London, should necessity
arise.
10. After consideration of the views of Capt. Bray, Major Dickson, then
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. , the 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 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 A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. and ihat it was not within
their 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 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 representing
the Protecting Power, 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 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. They 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 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
exercise the jurisdiction in question. 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. 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 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. of jurisdiction over all foreigners did not improve relations
between 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. 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
that the activities of the American missionaries were anti-British. Major
H. R. P. Dickson, C.I.E., a highly qualified officer with a distinguished
record of service in Mesopotamia, who succeeded him as 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. ,
reported in January 1920|| that 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
t P. 5040. Ibn Saud,
Mar. 19 1920; tel. from
C.C., Baghdad, to G. of I.,
4601, April 15 1920.
X Desp. from Pol. Rea. to
G. of I., No. 2955, para. 28,
Sept. 1 1927, P. 5608/27.
§ Tel. from Pol. Res. to G.
of I., 1693. Sept. 2 ' 1920,
P. 1931/20.
Capt. Bray to C.O.,
Baghdad, Mav 27 1919,
P. 5040/20.
1| Letter from Ma jor
Dickson to Pol. Res., 0 C.
Jan. 1920, P. 5040.