Abstract: The volume contains correspondence relating to the actions and grievances of Shaikh Ḥamad bin Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, cousin of Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, the ruler of Bahrain. The key correspondents in the file are Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá, and a succession of Political Residents (Major Percy Cox (later Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Cox), Major Arthur Trevor) and Political Agents in Bahrain (Captain Francis Prideaux, Major Stuart Knox, Captain David Lorimer, and Captain Terence Keyes).The opening letter in the volume, dated December 1904, is from Shaikh Ḥamad to the Political Agent (Prideaux) and Resident (Cox), and is a request from Shaikh Ḥamad for an increase in his monthly allowances, which Cox rejected (folios 1a-5). Later correspondence, dated 1910, reported on the growing antagonism between Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá, which led to Shaikh Ḥamad threatening, and then carrying out his threat, to seek the protection of the Wali [custodian] of Busorah [Basra] (folio 13). British officials did not attach great importance to Shaikh Ḥamad’s threats, but nevertheless instructed staff the steam ship company Gray Paul & Co. to refuse Shaikh Ḥamad passage (folios 17, 18). However, in September 1911 Shaikh Ḥamad succeeded in making his way to Basra, and onwards to Baghdad and Constantinople, with the apparent intention of taking his grievances against Shaikh ‘Īsá to the Porte (folios 26-27). The Wali of Basra sent an envoy to Bahrain to negotiate between the two parties (folios 38-40). In the meantime Shaikh Ḥamad returned to Bahrain, where he was reported to be wearing Turkish dress and bearing an Ottoman medal (folios 64, 65).Shortly afterwards, reports stated that Shaikh Ḥamad and Shaikh ‘Īsá were reconciled (folio 71), but in the following years, further clashes between the two periodically surfaced, including an incident in which Shaikh Ḥamad’s Bedouin servant shot the dogs of a respectable Manama resident in 1914 (folios 83, 84), and the beating, in 1915, at Shaikh Ḥamad’s instigation, of Shaikh ‘Īsá’s camel herder (folios 102-03). In a letter from the Political Agent (Keyes) to the Political Resident (Cox), dated 8 October 1915, and in light of Shaikh Ḥamad’s previous intrigues with Ottoman officials, the possibility of Shaikh Ḥamad having been the member of the Āl Khalīfah family suspected of making contact with German agents is mooted (folios 118-20). Shaikh ‘Īsá’s subsequent request to British officials to have Shaikh Ḥamad deported to Karachi, ultimately fell on deaf ears (folio 121).Physical description: Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover, using circled numbers located in the top-right corner of each recto. An earlier foliation system, which numbers versos as well as rectos containing text, runs through the volume. This foliation system uses uncircled numbers located in the top-left corner of versos and the top-right corner of rectos. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a, 64a.There is evidence of insect damage, in the form of small holes in the paper, throughout the file. However the damage is not extensive enough to impair the legibility of text.
Abstract: The correspondence in the file relates to the question of jurisdiction over Hasawis living in Bahrain, and is raised by specific incidents occurring in 1914 and 1917 in which Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, chief of Bahrain, ruled on the measures to be taken against certain Hasawis for their debts or indiscretions. The correspondence is chiefly between the Bahrain Political Agent (Captain Terence Keyes in 1914, Captain Percy Loch in 1917), the Political Resident (Major Stuart Knox in 1914; Major Arthur Trevor in 1917), and Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah.In a letter dated 28 May 1914, Knox wrote to Shaikh ‘Īsá to state that the Hasawis, when in Bahrain, come under the protection and jurisdiction of the Political Agent (folio 1a). However, a further incident in 1917, in which Shaikh ‘Īsá authorised the removal of a rudder from a boat belonging to an Haswai in Bahrain, led to further correspondence from the Political Agent (Loch), restating that Hasawis, and well as Najdis and Qatifis in Bahrain, come under the protection of the High Government and Political Agent (folios 13-15).The file’s cover appears to be a later addition to the file, because it was in use in 1952 as the cover to another file (number 13/12) entitled ‘Ministry and Civil Aviation, Bahrain - Civil Aerodrome Circulars’. These details appear on the inside back cover of the existing file, as a result of the 1952 cover being turned inside-out to be used as a new cover for the older (1914-1917) file.Physical description: Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside back cover using pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. The following foliation anomalies occur: 1a. Folio 10 is missing, as a result of the verso of folio 9 being labelled 10.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence related to the membership and running of the Majlis al-Urfi (or civil court) in Bahrain, and negotiations between the Bahrain ruling family and the British Government, chiefly relating to the question of jurisdiction of foreign nationals in Bahrain. The principal correspondents in the file are the Bahrain Political Agent Major Harold Dickson, the Deputy Political Resident Major Arthur Trevor, the ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, and Sheikh Isa’s son, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh.The file begins with correspondence relating to the Majlis al-Urfi, with reports that a member of the Majlis had resigned (folios 2-3). In a draft letter to Shaikh ‘Īsá, dated 5 June 1919, Dickson made clear that any changes to the membership of the Majlis had to be agreed with the Political Agent (folio 6-8). A further letter from Dickson to Shaikh ‘Īsá, dated January 1920, asked the ruler why the sessions of the Majlis had stopped, in the wake of Shaikh ‘Abdullāh's visit to London (folio 13). In a letter to Sir Arthur Hertzel of the India Office, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh made four demands on behalf of his father Shaikh ‘Īsá: 1) jurisdiction over foreign nationals from neighbouring states in Bahrain; 2) the right to elect members to the Majlis al-Urfi court; 3) permission to open a port at Zubarah on the Qatar peninsula; 4) the privilege of reference to higher authorities. (folio 18).Much of the remainder of the file is correspondence related to the first of Shaikh ‘Abdullāh's demands, namely, jurisdiction over foreign nationals in Bahrain, and the extent to which this was permissible, given that the British authorities in Bahrain wanted to administer such jurisdiction. A draft letter from Dickson to Ibn Sa‘ūd and Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Thānī of Qatar, dated 14 July 1920, confirmed that their subjects would come under the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Government when in Bahrain (folio 40). Correspondence at the end of the file relates to complaints from Ibn Sa‘ūd over discrimination against Nejdi traders in Bahrain (folio 58), and the running of the Bahrain customs house (folio 55).Physical description: Foliation: The file is foliated from the front cover to the inside-back cover, using circled numbers in the top-right corner of each recto. The following foliation anomalies occur: 12A, 12B, 15A, 15B. The following folio numbers are omitted: 12, 15.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between the British Political Agent at Bahrain and the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, as well as J.W. Storrs, Sub-Divisional Engineer at Bushire, Sheikh ‘Īsā bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah, Sheikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsā Āl Khalīfah, Yūsuf Kanoo, Seth Rao Sahib Tirathdas Maharaj, Director of Bahrain Customs, and various merchants, shipping agents and contractors.This correspondence concerns the proposal to build a pier and godwons (warehouses) at Manama, Bahrain. Included within the correspondence are details concerning shipping, the loading and unloading of cargo, and wharfage fees at Bahrain; estimates and expenses for building materials; surveys of the proposed location for the pier; and fund-raising for the project among Bahraini merchants.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A second uncircled foliation sequence commencing on f. 2 is also present.
Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to Kuwaiti relations with Bahrain from 1906 to 1920.The discussion in the volume relates to:a note of a conversation between the Resident and Shaikh Mubarak [Shaikh Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ] of Kuwait concerning Nasir bin Mobarak bin al Khalifa the 'outlaw relative' of Shaikh Isa of Bahrain [Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah];reported expulsion of Jews from Bahrain;Bahraini political exiles;Shaikh Mubarak's visit to Bahrain, 1911;A note by Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson, entitled 'Note on History of Zubara and Claims of Shaikh of Bahrein to Zubara', which includes (folio 44) a small sketch map illustrating the remarks in this note.Included in the volume (folios 33-34) is a copy in Arabic and English translation of the letter of Nasir bin Mobarak bin al-Khalifa, Chief of the Al Abdullah branch of the Al Khalifa family of Bahrain to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. Also included is a map (folio 44) prepared by the Acting Civil Commissioner for Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson, to illustrate his 'Note on History of Zubara and Claims of Shaikh of Bahrein to Zubara'.The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Percy Zachariah Cox and later, Francis Beville Prideaux; the Political Agent, Kuwait, Stuart George Knox; the Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia, Arnold Talbot Wilson; the Political Agent, Bahrain, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 53; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 2-52, and ff 3-39; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence and papers relating to the finances of the Bahrain Government, and British officials' efforts to impose reforms on the Bahrain state finances.Many of the letters in the volume are discussions between the Political Agent at Bahrain (Major Clive Daly until September 1926, thereafter Colonel Cyril Barrett) and the Political Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Trevor until April 1924, thereafter Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Prideaux), about what needed to be done to regulate expenditure and generate income in Bahrain, with particular reference to the financial allowances given to members of the Al Khalifa family (for example folios 3-8, 27-29). The first monthly balance sheets, drawn up by Daly in December 1923, are enclosed (folios 32-38).A large portion of the file is made up of monthly accounts sheets (including Bahrain civil lists), sent by Eastern Bank Limited to the Political Agent (January 1924 accounts at folios 46-58, and subsequent months distributed throughout the volume). Correspondence from Claude de Grenier, Director of the Bahrain Customs House, enclosing customs house receipts and expenditure also figure prominently (for example, folios 80-81, 98-100). Notes on the annual Bahrain state budget for the Hijri years 1343 to 1346 (1924-1927), with balance sheets prepared by Daly (and later, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave) are also included in the file (folios 104-13, 187-90, 196-206, 231-46).The file also contains correspondence from Prideaux to the Secretary of the Political Department at the India Office in Whitehall, dated 15 September 1925, indicating that Prideaux has found a man (Belgrave) qualified to work as a financial advisor to the Government of Bahrain (folios 168-69, 172B-175).Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence begins on the front cover and finishes on the back cover, using numbers written mainly in blue crayon (with additions, clarifications and corrections in pencil). The numbers are occasionally circled and are usually located in the top-right corner of the recto side of each folio, but can vary depending on the format of the folio.The following foliation anomalies occur: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F; 157A and 157B. Foliation omissions: 61 and 179.The following folios are fold-outs: 1, 37-38, 45, 48-53, 55-56, 58, 62-63, 66-68, 71-83, 95-100, 107, 111, 113 and 125-129.The volume is tightly bound to the extent that the text on some items disappears into the gutter, making it difficult to read.
Abstract: The volume comprises correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), the Officer-in-Charge of the Bahrain Branch of Cable and Wireless Limited (Cecil Bottomley), the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave), the Shaikh of Bahrain (Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah) and other representatives of Cable and Wireless Limited, formerly Imperial and International Communications Limited (Percy E Bunker, Norman Luke Penfold, John Cuthbert Denison-Pender, Fred W Humphrey).The principal topic of discussion within the volume is Cable and Wireless Limited’s decision to expand their telegraph station and services in Bahrain by connecting the telephone lines on the Island to the submarine cables through an extension from the Bushire-Henjam cable to Bahrain. The correspondence discusses the work required in order to undertake this and the new site required by Cable and Wireless to erect a new cable house and more powerful telegraph mast. The volume concludes with the sale of land to Cable and Wireless for a cable house and the signing of a lease to rent the land surrounding the new cable house in order to ensure that there would be no interference by buildings in the immediate area surrounding the new mast. A copy of the signed agreement in Arabic and English can be found at folios 209-211.Other matters discussed in the volume include:Clarification regarding the land at Houra [Hoora], Bahrain occupied by Imperial and International Communications Limited telegraph station, which had been gifted by the late Shaikh of Bahrain (ʻIsá ibn ʻAlī Āl Khalīfah) to the British Government. Enclosed with the correspondence is a copy of the statement issued by the Shaikh in 1912 regarding the gift (folio 8);An enquiry from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven William Fowle) regarding the value of telegrams despatched from Bahrain, 1925-1934, as he wished to determine whether the opening of an oil field in a country increased the revenue of its wireless station;Correspondence regarding the decision by Cable and Wireless to close the telegraph station at Henjam and to hand over responsibility for the Jask [Damāgheh-ye Jāsk] to Chahbar [Chabahar] and Gwadar landline to the Persian Government.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 222-242.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 247; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 7-221 and between ff 222-242; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The file mainly relates to a proposal to curb the proliferation of arms in Bahrain [often referred to in the papers as Bahrein] by the issue of a proclamation (also referred to as an
Alaanand an
'Alan) by the Ruler of Bahrain banning the import and export of fireams and other weapons and providing for the registration of firearms. This was to be accompanied by the issue by the British Government of a King's Regulation under the Bahrain Order in Council, 1913. The papers include correspondence between the Political Agent Bahrain, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave (the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain), the Government of India, the India Office, and the Foreign Office, dated June 1935 - January 1937; draft and issued copies of the proclamation in English and Arabic, July 1935 - December 1936; draft and published copies of the King's Regulation on the possession of and traffic in arms, July 1935 - December 1936; and papers concerning the adverse reaction to the proclamation by Bahraini citizens, February 1937.The file also includes:correspondence between the Intelligence Bureau, Government of India; the Political Agent, Bahrain; and the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain concerning the recovery in India of a smuggled service rifle from an instructor attached to the Bahrein [Bahrain] Police, December 1934 - October 1935;correspondence concerning a proposal to seek exemption from the Ruler of Bahrain's arms and ammunition proclamation dated 30 April 1898 for arms and ammunition landed at Bahrain for the use of the Royal Navy, May - June 1935.The Spanish and French language content of this file consists of text forming part of printed King's Regulations relating to Morocco, dated 1935, included with official correspondence as specimens of the form of such regulations, ff. 59-64.The covering dates of the correspondence (the main body of papers) in the file are 5 January 1935 - 12 March 1937. The closing date in the overall date range is supplied by an entry in the notes at the rear of the file.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 134; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-134; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence regarding the arrangements for the visit of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to Bahrain in February 1933, in particular a dinner and presentation (sometimes referred to as a durbar or darbar) to mark the accession of Shaikh Hamad. The correspondence is between the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, the Political Agent in Bahrain, Royal Air Force (RAF) Headquarters in Basra, the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf, and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain.Several matters are covered by the file, including:the programme for the Resident's visit (folios 9-10);preparations for a feast for the poor being held by Shaikh Hamad;seating arrangements (folio 54) and invitations (folio 32);the announcement of a public holiday;the question of releasing prisoners as part of the celebration;transcriptions of the Resident's and Shaikh Hamad's speeches given at the presentation.Included in the file is the Political Agent's report on the visit (folios 77-82).Folios 100-102 are internal office notes.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 103; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-101; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The file contains copies of correspondence from the Political Agent, Bahrain, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Gordon Loch, to the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle, in Bushire. The correspondence concerns the flying of the Bahrain flag on all Bahrain vessels and the flying of the personal flag of the Shaikh of Bahrain (Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah) on any vessel he is aboard. Included in the file are four copies of a government notice on the matter featuring colour drawings of each flag.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 10; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains two letters. The first is from Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, and gives notice of the subdued (due to war) celebrations to mark the anniversary of the accession of Shaikh Hamad bin 'Isa Al Khalifah [Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] as ruler of Bahrain. The second letter is a circular from the Political Agency to several companies and government officials in Bahrain giving notice of the Agency's closure during the celebrations.Folios 5-9 are internal office notes in which it is discussed what customarily takes place at the Agency during the anniversary celebrations and the issue of the dressing of the Agency flagstaff, including whether to dress it for India's Independence Day on 15 August 1947.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 10; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-4; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence relating to the deaths of Shaikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifah (in 1933), a senior member of the ruling Al Khalifah family, and Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah (in 1942), the ruler of Bahrain. The majority of the papers are letters and telegrams of condolence from British (and some American) political, military, and diplomatic offices in the region, as well as others who knew the Shaikh, and letters of thanks in response from Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifah (the late Shaikh's son and the new ruler). The messages were sent via the Political Agent, Bahrain, in both directions. Also included in the file is correspondence between the Political Agent and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain, in which the correct protocol for commemorating the deaths is discussed.Folios 63-67 are internal office notes.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 68; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-55; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.