'File 12/1 [1 A/1 I] Persian Claims to Bahrain' [‎28v] (61/502)

34
Teh. Desp.
No. 95 of
26.4.1910.
P. 3539/10.
P.G. 13 : 67,
§^ 4 .
P.G. 13,
§ 8, p. 62.
§10, p. 63.
reaffirming that ills Majesty’s Government maintained as
regards the status of Bahreinis in Persia the position that
the island of Bahrein and its inhabitants were under British
protection, and that they would be guided entirely by their
own views of the position should any action of the Persian
Government make representations necessary.
128. Early in 1910 the Persian Government assimilated
the formalities to be fulfilled in the case of persons visiting
Bahrein to those prescribed in the case of travellers to
Persian ports, a measure which, as pointed out by the
Foreign Office at the time, constituted a fresh attempt to
assert Persian sovereignty over the island, but it was agreed
that in view of the undesirability of raising the general
question, no protest should be made to them. In July of
the same year it was reported that internal Persian coastal
passes issued to persons proceeding to Bahrein from Persian
ports were vise by a Persian merchant residing in Bahrein.
In 1912 the individual in question was forbidden to take
any action in regard to the endorsement of passes held by
Persian subjects for travelling in Bahrein. The endorse
ments in question were, however, henceforth granted by the
Political Resident—a practice, as pointed out by the Political
Resident nine years later, “of itself open to objection, as it
might be construed into a tacit admission that the Persian
passport authorities are justified in giving passes for another
Persian port to persons going to Bahrein.”
Withdrawal of Turkish Claim to Bahrein in Anglo-Turkish
Convention of 29th July 1913.
129. On 29th July 1913 His Majesty’s Government
signed a convention (which still awaited ratification on the
outbreak of the War of 1914-18) with the Ottoman Govern
ment. under which that Government renounced all their
claims to the islands ol Bahrein, the independence of which
they recognised. His Majesty’s Government on their part
declared that they had no intention of annexing the islands
and undertook not to allow the Sheikh of Bahrein to disturb
the autonomy of the peninsula of El Katr or to annex it,
and to ensure that the Sheikh should not discriminate
against Ottoman subjects in the matter of dues levied upon
pearl fisheries. The Turkish Government on their side
accepted a reservation of the right of the population of
Bahrein to visit Zakhnuniyah Island for fishing, and
recognised the rights of subjects of the Sheikh to British
consular protection in Turkey. This arrangement, followed,
as it was, by the disappearance of Turkey from the Gulf
after the War of 1914-18, disposed of the Turkish claim
to Bahrein, which had been reasserted on numerous occasions
and with great insistence since 1817.
Summary, 1892-1913.
130. The Turkish claim was repeatedly raised during
the early part of this period, but consistently opposed by
His Majesty s Government. It was finally abandoned in
the (unratified) Anglo-Turkish Convention of July 1913
While Aat Convention was never ratified, the abandonment
ot the lurkish claim was confirmed by Article 16 of the
Ireaty of Lausaune of 1923.
The Persian claim was also frequently pressed and was
consistently repudiated in strong terms by His Maiestv’s
Government. J J
Xin.—1913-34.
Exercise of Jurisdiction over Foreigners by British
Agent in Bahrein.
131. In virtue of the Convention of 1861 (paragraph 70
above) and of subsequent delegations by the Sheikhs the
British hepresentative in Bahrein has for over 70 years