File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [27r] (58/531)
The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in Nov 1904-Aug 1914. It was written in English and French. 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.
atinini ntratton since its refom was ■ its coated hy Sir If.
0 1 Conor in 1901. The question famed one of the principal
arguments urged hy them in reoot'xzending the appointment
Govt, of India 1 s letter of Captain Pride awe, loho, it vns
d/ll Apl .
V
i
'nola ’ovt. of India
iotter 4/SI U--y. •06.
1054/06.
(^/ / /( 7 ?f) hoped, ivonlcl he to bring
influence to bear upon the Sheikh to accept tin proposed
reform.
It nay be explained that, under a system which
is still in force, the Sheikh farms out the oust one to
certain Indian traders for stated periods. By this means
he obtains a oustms revenue of about Bs.2,20,000, vihereas
it is calculated that, if properly administered, the
customs would bring him in between 3 arid 4
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
annually. Bepe -led representations from British officers
(including Lord Curran when in the Gulf in 1903) have f 4 tied
to induce the Shaikh to accept our proposals. He has,
however, on sev-r I occasions (e.g. in 1S9S and 1002)
pr and sea that when the farmers 1 leases fell in they would
not be renewed, and in 1901 he declared his intention of
himself assuming the direct mmagmmt of his Customs
on the expiry of the lease then current, a practice ivhioh
was introducedn in 1890 at Muscat. On each occasion he
failed to eep his word.
His present attitude on the que tion seems to
be as momproni sing as ever. At an Interview with Hof or
6ox and Captain Prideaux, at which
thC subject was broached, he said
n I have always given you an answer on that subject, and
"hove no other (answer to give".
As
About this item
- Content
The volume contains correspondence relating to disturbances in Bahrain and the consequent discussion over administrative changes. The correspondence is mostly between the 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. , the Foreign Office, and the Government of India. Further correspondence, included as enclosures, is from the following:
- Percy Zachariah Cox, 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ;
- Francis Beville Prideaux, 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. at Bahrain;
- Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifah [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah], ruler of Bahrain;
- Shaikh Ali bin Ahmed Al Khalifah [Shaikh ‘Alī bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], nephew of the ruler of Bahrain;
- numerous other British political and naval offices in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. and Persia.
The disturbances centred around attacks on a German man and several Persians by Shaikh Isa's nephew, Ali bin Ahmed, and his followers in late 1904. The papers within the volume cover several matters related to these attacks:
- the investigation into the details of the attacks;
- the discussion over what to do about Ali bin Ahmed and his eventual exile;
- British naval operations to enforce order;
- Turkish claims that Shaikh Isa believes himself to be a Turkish subject;
- the discussion over increased administrative intervention in Bahrain, specifically control of customs.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (260 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 1508 (Bahrain) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/81-83. The volumes are divided into five parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, and parts 3, 4, and 5 comprising the third volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 262; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located 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 previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [27r] (58/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/81, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027013012.0x00003b> [accessed 3 April 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/81
- Title
- File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:49v, 51r:53v, 57r:89r, 90v:94v, 95v:109r, 111r:121r, 121r:146r, 147v:225v, 227v:228r, 231v:237r, 238r:262v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence