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'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues' [‎135r] (284/504)

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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. .

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Shaik Hamad took chasg® progrts# in evtry di:
work ha« "bten rapid.H« is hims«lf Prtsident
tntir® managemont of affairs is v«Bttd in til
P # A. attends meetings ex officio & the menbe
m
apart from helping whexoro asked to do so,he >
management So Shaik Hamad himself takes no de
concurrence of the majority of the members. *
1
"by the Municipality are noM part of the f Bef<
To revert to the actual 'reforras*
i
(!) The Bahrain Conrt has been working or c
some
popular except perhaps with members of A1 Khi
b« amenable to Law like eveiybody els<
men who ,under the old regime,nobody could c<
what they did.
All thay remains to be done is to get out a
much
•Criminal Code' as srett for the guidance of
!
information of the public.It is not fair 01
be decided off-hand by the light of nature a
everybody whom we have consulted d.esire a sia
introduction will meet with general approval
everything as simple as possible.
(2) Diving- The main difficulty has been ov
have stopped their opposition & now produc
Courts* when required. The Shaik will short
a copy of which wassent you with my No
this-it merely lays down the existing oust
Hakhudas shouod not swindle.The onlyjo inno
of th divers 1 account books.This was propo
agreed to by GrovernmuBt & the books are p
at the expiry of this season.The object is
of allowing accounts to run on for yearswi^
how he stands .Everybody knows that the syst-
-uced & agree that it is a good one® The dec
as protecting them as much as it does the di
given to sharp practice naturally don't like
(3) The Survey is arranged for-everybody knowi
Shaik Hamad took c]m»g« progress in ®v«ry dir«ction of Municipal
work h&» "beien rapid.H« is himstlf President of the committee & th%
entir® management of affairs is vested in the Municipal Majlis.The
P.A. attends meetings ex officio & the members often consult him,but
apart from helping whenro asked to do so,he has no part in its
management & Shaik Hamad himself takes no decisions except with the
concurrence of the majority of the members. The improvemento effected
by the Municipality are nox part of the 'Reforms' introduced by us.
To revert to the actual 'reforms'
(!) The Bahrain Court has been working or over a yeas & is most
some
popular except perhaps with member® of A1 Khalifeh who now have to
amenable to Law like everybody else ,& a few of the rich
men who ,under the old regime,nobody could compalin against no matter
what they did.
All thay remains to be done is to get out a simple 'Civil Code' &
much
'Criminal Code' as aatt for the guidance of the gourt as for the
information of the public.It is not fair on either that cases should
be decided off-hand by the light of nature alone. Shaik Hamad &
everybody whom we have consulted desire a simple set of Rmles,^ their
introduction will meet with general approval. The idea is to keep
everything as simple as possible.
(2) Diving- The main difficulty has been overcome,inasmuch as Hakhudas
have stopped their opposition & now produce their accounts to the
Court© when required. The Shaik will shortly issue the proclamajjion
a copy of which wassent you with my Ho • There is nothing new in
this-it merely lays down the existing custom but insists that the
Nakhudas shouod not swindle.The onlyjo innovation is the introduction
of th divers' account books.This was proposed by Colonel Trevor &
•greed to by Oovernmaftt & the books are printed & ready for issue
at the expiry of this season.The object is to do away with the custom
of allowing accounts to run on for years w ithout the diver knowing
how he stands .Everybody knows that the system is about to be intrid-
-uced & agree that it is a good oneo The decent Nakhudas welcome it,
as protecting them as much as it does the divers .Nakhudas who were
given to sharp practice naturally don't like it.
(3) The Survey is arranged for-everybody known about it s^-tv 4.

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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
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'File 9/1 Institution of Reforms & Sunni opposition intrigues' [‎135r] (284/504), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/127, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023321443.0x000055> [accessed 2 December 2024]

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