مذكرة عن احترام المصالح البريطانية في الخليج العربي. [و‎‎٢‎٧] (١٢٦/١٩)

27
Mr. G. Willock,
No. 1,
January 25, 1822.
Mr. Grant-Duff,
No. 247,
September 26,
1906.
1825.
1831.
1839.
Bruce. Not only did the Indian Government
disavow the Treaty, hut Mr. G. Willock, British
Representative at Tabreez, reported that—
“ Mirza Baugur, Anhie, who had been deputed
to Court to obtain the ratification of the Treaty,
did not meet with a favourable reception; and
His Majesty the Shah, whilst refusing his
accordance to the stipulations, expressed his dis
pleasure that the Prince of Shiraz should have
entered into any engagements with the British
Government without his knowledge and in
junctions.”
The 'treaty was therefore not ratified either
by the Shah or by the Government of India.
This is an important point, since as late as
1906 the Persian Government based their claim
to Bahrein on the Treaty of 1822.
In 1821 the British Government mediated
with success between Bahrein and the kindred
house of Rahmah-bin-Jaubir of Demaum.
In the following year Suliman died, and was
succeeded by his son Khalifa, but the latter’s
uncle, Abdulla, managed to retain all real power
in his own hands. The Imam of Muscat w r as in
favour of active intervention on behalf of
Khalifa; the Governor of Bombay warned him
of the evils which would flow from such a step,
hut his advice proved unavailing. As, however,
Khalifa was prompt in his opposition to the
common enemy, the Imam was utterly routed, and
theUttoobees, elated by success, took the initiative,
. and protested their unwillingness to agree to any
terms of peace which were not guaranteed by
the British Government ; finally, in 1831, the
desultory warfare which had ensued fizzled out
from inanition.
In 1839, on the irruption of the Egyptian
army into Nejd, Sheikh Abdulla won over the
Commander, by the promise of an annual tribute,
to undertake that he would not encroach on
Bahrein. The British Government, who at this
time were watching with anxiety the progress of
the Egyptian troops, expostulated with the
Sheikh on the way in which lie was sacrificing
his independence ; he admitted, in answer, that
he would be prepared to drop all further con
nection with the Egyptian Pasha and ‘‘avow
himself a dependant of Great Britain,” in return
for a guarantee of protection. The speedy with-
7So