'File 19/12 Bahrain, Precis of Zobara Affairs in 1895' [‎89v] (186/230)

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boats from Zobarah. We have at present no authority from Iler Majesty's
Government to do more than protect Bahrein.
Telegram, No. 1669-E., dated Simla, the 1st September 1S95.
From—His Excellency the Viceroj-, Simla,
To—The Secretary or State, London.
Secret. Foreign, The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. has been
written to by the Mutasarrif of llasa who accuses him of breaking the peace
of the Nejd coast by seizing boats ; warns him that Katr people feel impelled
to attack Bahrein; states that he has restrained them hitherto, but cannot
restrain them longer; asks for the return of the boats seized by Commander
Pelly, and advises the removal of British subjects from Baiirein within seven-
teen days from 19th August. The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. proposes to reply that
the fullest responsibility rests on Turkish ollicials. He also advises the release
by force of Bahrein boats whose detention at Zobarah was reported in my
telegram of the 27th July. I have told him to take no action in either case
pending instructions, lias the remonstrance suggested in my telegram,
dated the 4th August last, been sent by Her Majesty's Government to the
Porte, and if the action recommended can be taken w r ith certainty of success
would Her Majesty's Government permit it ?
[Confidential.)
'No. 89, dated Bushire, the 2-tth August 1895.
From— C olonel F. A. W ilson , Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
To The Secretary to the Governmeut of India, Foreign Department.
1 hove the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your two telegrams
of the 22nd instant. The necessary communication has been made to Com
mander Pelly regarding his action in the event of hostile demonstration against
Bahrein.
A copy of Commander Pelly's last despatch* received yesetrday is enclosed
for the information of Government; no
• Dated 22ud August with enclosure. event of importance has occurred during
the week, and the situation appears to be not materially changed. Some signi
ficance may, however, attach to the rumour of warnings to his subordinates by
the Mutasarrif against an attack on Bahrein, as possibly indicating a caution
from the Ottoman Government to its representatives, against acts that would
more seriously compromise it.
2. Should there be truth in this rumour, the general position disclosed is
in no w r ay improved, and is in my opinion exceedingly unsatisfactory. For
the Mudir at Z^barah and the Commander of the Turkish vessel Zuhof
having both declared Shaikh Jasim (presumably as Kaim Makam of Katr)
their superior, the reported instructions to them, would indicate a confusion and
uncertainty of authority, and a consequent irresponsibility in action, of a dan
gerous character. In this connection, I have to report the further information
which hns reached me, of a letter from the Mutasarrif of Hasa to Shaikh Esa,
stating that in reply to his orders for the arrest of the pirate Ahmad-bin-
Salman, he had learned that the man was a Bahreini. Such an apology,
when the occasion demands the most strenuous efforts to arrest this ruffian,
is an insult to reason, the man having left Bahrein for Turkish territory,
where he has since resided, 18 months ago.
3. It seems to me so gravely open to doubt whether Jasim can rightly be
regarded as a responsible officer of the Ottoman Government, and our position
resulting from this doubt, and the attitude of the local Turkish officials gene
rally, has become so unsatisfactory and indeed intolerable, that I venture to
submit a course of action for consideration. I do this with the utmost diffidence,
having regard to my ignorance of the views of the Government of India