'ملف رقم 19/12 البحرين، ملخص شؤون الزبارة لعام ١٨٩٥' [و‎‎٩‎٢] (٢٣٠/١٩١)

3
5. Important later news is that a few days after the departure of H. M. S.
Bramble the Mutasarrif of El-Hasa arrived with the intention of taking the
mail steamer to Busrah; but on learning the state ot affairs, and being met by
a letter from jasim, he abandoned that design and proceeded instead at once
to Zobarah. Jasim's letter is said to have informed the Mutasarrif of the purport
of the warning he had received from me, and added that the removal of settlers
at Zobarah was a matter for the Turkish authorities; that it was desirable to
raise the Turkish flag, and that he awaited the arrival of the Mutasarrif there.
It is further reported by the Residency Agent that information had reached
him that representatives of the Manasir and Beni-Hajir tribes had visited
Sheikh Sultan, had received valuable presents, and had entered into compacts to
support him.
6. Sheikh Sultan in his letter asks for delay in obeying the order for his
removal at the close of the pearl season. Such delay is, in my opinion, quite
inadmissible : it is not justified by any necessity of the situation, and can only be
intended to afford time for consolidating the position and for the operation of
intrigues to secure its permanence. I regard his expressed jreadiness to be
reconciled with his Chief as empty words, and consider that he now feels himself
too much enmeshed in the intrigues of Jasim and others to return to his former
position under Bahrein. Should he thoroughly realize that his aspirations for a
settlement at Zobarah, supported by Jasim and local Chiefs, with possibly
Turkish connivance, are hopeless, his attitude might very probably change.
Sheikh Jasim's letter is evidently merely an evasion, and his pretence of
looking for our assistance in proceedings which he well knows to be directly
opposed to the policy of Government, is curiously bold. By the " owners to
whom he proposes to leave Katr, he must be taken to mean the Turks.
7. Bahrein trade has increased, and to this fact may probably be attributed
the movement with regard to Zobarah, which now threatens to assume more
importance. A settlement there fostered by Jasim's machinations, with possibly
higher support, is regarded by Sheikh Esa as fatal to the well-being of Bahrein.
iMvould, I consider, lead to grave complications, besides furnishing a base for
actual aggression. The Albin-Ali who have gone there are said to number
some 1 S 00 ) including women and children; and should success be permitted to
attend their movement, it is to be feared that the Naeem, Chaban and Dawasir
tribes mi^ht be seduced from their allegiance to Bahrein and be led to abandon
it and join the seceders to its entire ruin.
8. On the foregoing considerations I am led to the conclusion that the
threatened situation calls for absolute prohibition to be carried into effect by force
if necessary. I therefore ventured to recommend in my telegram of the 2nd that
I should be authorised to enforce the demand upon the Albin-Ali to evacuate
Zobarah, by seizing their boats if necessary. A distinct threat in this sense would,
I hope, suffice—to be followed by action only if required by the circumstances.
No. 75, dated Bushire, the 22nd April 1895.
p rom colonel F. A. W ilson, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
7 0 _ S heikh J asim-bin -T hani.
After compliments. —It has been reported to me that Sultan Sheikh-bin-
Mohamed Salamah in defiance of the wishes of his Chief, Sheikh-Esa-bin-
Ali intends to form a settlement at Zobarah, and that in this matter he has your
support and assistance.
You are well aware that such a settlement at Zobarah is in direct opposition
to the will of the Government. I have now received the orders of Government in
this matter, and I accordingly have to convey to you a strong and very distinct
warning that such a settlement will not be permitted. You will therefore clearly
understand that, in order to retain the favour and friendship of Government, you
must at once abandon any such project which will not be tolerated.