'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues' [21r] (56/504)
The record is made up of 1 volume (241 folios). It was created in 10 Apr 1922-19 Oct 1930. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
! 1
the -roteeting Power to refute the aceas^tion of eon liv^nce &t
oppression* 3aeh reforms would ©ostprise.
3
1. Satroduetion of some s/tesa into the taxation to ensure some
equality of ineidenee.
2. Introduction of some eourt in which 3hi hs ©ar; obtain
redresses opposed to the present s/steia wherbj ever/ member of
the ruling fajail/ imprisons & otherwise puni; bias at xd-lli"
3 Insistence on the proper observation of diving rules &
maintenanee of accounts between Nakhadas & divers &■ the
production of accounts in court in t v e event of dispute,as
• opposed to the present system v ^/herebj the Hakhadas absolutely
decline to produce their accounts before any court,except one
man appointed & paid bj themselves & who is notoriously
unjust to the divers.
There ©re no insuperable difficulties in formulating schemes
to obtain the above ends,but it will be useless to put forward
any seheae unless we £ re prepared to insist that any proposals I
finally approved,of by Government wi 1 be insisted on & moreover 1
steps taiien to ensure that they are carried out.
The rulo rs may be relied on to readily accepjs any part of
such schemes from which th«y will personally derive benifit.
for example the imposition of taxs upon Sunnis who have kifherl
avoided payment,but they rpuld avoid carrying out the more
distasteful portions such as the int^roduction of some
Judicial system & the abolition of unfair taxes on shiahs.
3u@h results ^ ould increase rather than decrease the criticism
. of the Protecting Power.
As explained to fou verbally & as you are no doubt •well aware
Shaik: Sir iilasa Bin Ali is now completely in his dotage, though |
in good bodily health.Ho amount of persuasion of argument by
his sons or notables has any effect & he now invariably
refuses to consider a ay change of any Icind ^ declines to
give any reasons for his refusal. He is absolutely dominated
by his wife,an ignorant v : oman & a sheer despot. Her son
Shaii Abdul la having been remove 1 from the conduct of affairs
her omy ^ .ibition is to induce Shaii -^asa to always oppose
About this item
- Content
The first part of the volume (folios 2 to 146) covers the period 1922 to 1927, and concerns proposals for reforms in the Sheikhdom of Bahrain, and their subsequent implementation and impact on the kingdom. This part of the volume contains letters exchanged 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. in Bahrain (Major Clive Daly until September 1926, thereafter Major Cyril Barrett) and 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Trevor or the Acting Resident Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Knox until April 1924, thereafter Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Prideaux), and 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 Foreign Secretary of the Government of India. British officials discussed proposals for economic and political reforms in Bahrain, with particular attention paid to tax changes intended to redress the imbalance between what Bahrain's Sunnis and Shias were obliged to pay. Also discussed were the financial reorganisation of the customs house and regulation of the pearl diving industry, reform of the Bahrain judicial system, land registration and revenues, and the institution of a Levy Corps force. British officials also discussed the relationships between themselves and between members of the al Khalifa ruling family, in particular Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa and his son Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The abdication or removal of Isa, and the installation of Hamad, are discussed at length.
The last part of the volume (folio 147 onwards) spans the period 1929-1930, and is chiefly comprised of correspondence between the Bahrain Agent (Colonel Geoffrey Prior), 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. (Barrett to November 1929, thereafter Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Biscoe) and officials from the Government of India. This part of the volume concerns fears on the part of the Government of India that Britain is too heavily involved in Bahrain, and asks questions of whether the number of British officials in Bahrain can be reduced. Included are two lengthy reports by Prior and Barrett in June and August 1929 respectively (folios 147-162, 165-185) outlining Britain's historic intervention in Bahrain, and stressing the importance of its continued presence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (241 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume's contents have been arranged in approximate chronological order, starting with the earliest items at the front and finishing with the latest items at the end.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence begins on the front cover and finishes on the back cover, using circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A second foliation sequence is also present between ff 2-118; these numbers are written in blue crayon, circled and can be found in the same position as the main sequence. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F; 137A and 137B.
The following folios are fold-outs: 17-18, 51-52, 64-65, 86, 106-107, 221 and 227.
The volume is tightly bound to the extent that the text on some items disappears into the gutter, making it difficult to read.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues' [21r] (56/504), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/127, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023321442.0x000039> [accessed 3 December 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023321442.0x000039
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023321442.0x000039">'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues' [‎21r] (56/504)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023321442.0x000039"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00035e/IOR_R_15_2_127_0060.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00035e/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/127
- Title
- 'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1br:1fv, 2r:85v, 86v:136v, 137ar:137bv, 138r:140v, 141v:226v, 228r:232v, 234r:243v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence