§ 13. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any information regarding the action of the British adviser of the Sheikh of Bahrein in May last sanctioning the arrest and imprisonment of pearl fishers in the Persian Gulf who were dis- 457 satisfied with their pay, and the subsequent action of the British Consul involving the shooting by Hindu sepoys of a number of the pearl fishers, the result being the total suspension of pearl fishing; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances which led to the affair?
§ Sir S. HOAREA serious riot, the reasons for which appear to have been partly economic, took place in Bahrein on the 26th May, in the course of which a mob broke into the police station and released a diver who had been imprisoned. The situation was rapidly brought under control. No shots were fired by the Indian police but two divers appear to have been killed and four or five wounded by sporadic firing by local Arab watchmen. There was no suspension of the pearl fishing, the pearling boats leaving for the banks in the first week of June. I see no occasion for further inquiry into the incident which appears to have been satisfactorily dealt with by the local authorities.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs it true that the casualties amount only to two? Were there not a larger number killed in addition to the number seriously injured?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe information at my disposal is that two people were killed and four or five wounded.