'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎147] (174/204)

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possible to overlook the Sheikhas repeated breaches of faith and his persistently contum-
cious attitude with regard to it. In fact, the reform of the Customs administration of
Bahrein has become a test case of the nature and degree of the influence which the British
Government may reasonably claim to exercise over the ruler of those islands.
4" To coerce the Sheikh would be a simple matter. He possesses no troops or ships'
and the towns of Manama and Muharrak, where the Sheikh himself resides, are completely
open to attack from the sea. But the adoption of forcile measures would be liable to
arouse unnecessary suspicion and alarm as "to our intentions in the Gulf ; and we prefer,
therefore, to effect our object by means which, if slower, may, we trust, be not less
effective. ^ During the Viceroys recent visit to the island, His Excellencv was impressed
■with the iact that our Assistant 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. at Manama does not carry that weight
with the Sheikh which should be expected in the representative of the British Government.
That Mr. Gaskin was not entirely suited for the
r^i^S=t y t E^b^^ 9 oo,Nos.3 6 S. P 0St tr h rH b r, n the outset;
386. we think that Lord George Hamilton was right
when he expressed the opinion in 1901 that the
appointment was one which should be held by an officer of superior status: and we propose,
with the approval of His Majesty s Government to select an officer of the graded list of our
Political Department to take the place of Mr. Gaskin, for wfiom we hope to be able to
provide elsewhere. To emphasise the change we would send a small guard of native infan
try as a permanent escort to our new Agent. It has been recognised as desirable that a
gun-boat should visit the island frequently during the pearling season to check the piracies
which then occur. During the present year it can probably be arranged that the gun-boat
shall make a more prolonged stay at Bahrein. It will also be necessary to provide the
Assistant 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. with a boat of some description^ so that he can at intervals visit
Katit and the out-lying portions of his charge, and this boat could, perhaps, be utilised
for the suppression of piratical outrages in the shallower waiters which a British gun-boat
cannot reach. In this way we think that the difficult question which has been raised, of
allowing the Shqikh to arm and equip a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. for this purpose, might be satifactorily met,
while an additional proof of our title to police the pearl banks would be secured.
5. The Sheikh will probably not be slow to recognise the 'significance of the action
which we suggest, and we anticipate that it will not be long before a suitable officer is able
to secure a proper influence over the Sheikh and to find an opportunity of bringing pres
sure to bear on him in connection with the Customs question or any other matter. Apart
from affairs of domestic interest, the need for a more definite assertion of our position has
recently come into greater prominence owing to the establishment of a German trader on
the island, and by reason of the growing interest in this quarter displayed by foreigners of
other nationalities. We also contemplate that the officer posted at Bahrein should be
invested with Vice-Consular powers for the Turkish district of El Hassa, and should be
charged with the superintendence of our commercial interests at Katif regarding which we
have recently addressed you in a separate despatch
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