'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎10] (29/204)

IO
CHAPTER V.
Mahomed-bin-Khalifa blockades Wahabi ports, but compelled to
raise the blockade by the British and to sign a perpetual treaty
of peace, (2) Turkish protest against our proceedings, 1861,
34. In May, 1861, Captain Felix Jones received news that Sheikh Maho-
Letter from 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. ^ dat«d xst nied-bin^Khalifa had entered upon the
June 1861. veiume 85 of 1861. blockade of the neighbouring Wahabi ports
with six armed vessels and was perseveringly employed in harassing the trade
and pearl fisheries of Damaun and Katif. Captain Jones thereupon proceeded
to Bahrein with the full Gulf squadron. He arrived at Bahrein on 18th May,
and from that date to 28th May, he tried in vain to induce the Chief of Bahrein
to stop his aggression. The Chief, it appears, was decided upon ignoring all
British interference and authority, secretly instigated as he had been by Persian
agents, who had promised him even the assistance of a French vessel. Under
these circumstances and having regard to the decision of the Secretary of State
(Despatch No. 2, dated 18th February 1861), Captain Jones concluded that
forbearance had reached its limits, and directed Commodore Drought to take
the necessary measures to stop the Chief's ships from blockading the harbours
of the Katif coast. The able disposition made by the Commodore placed two
of the Chief's finest war boats, then preparing for further aggressions, within the
power of the British squadron without firing a shot.
35. The Chief thereupon climbed down, and after some negotiations con
ducted through his brother Ali, was induced to sign a Perpetual Treaty of Peace
See a endix d on 2is ^ May 1861, binding himself to
ee ppen ix * abstain from war, piracy and importation
of slaves by sea on condition of protection against similar aggressions and to
fermiUall British subjects to trade with Bahrein on payment of an ad valorem
duty of five per cent on their goods. Captain Felix Jones caused one of the
boats captured (the Taw He h) to be restored to the Chief, but retained the other
boat (the Humreh). #
36. The Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. approved of the measures adopted by 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. to compel the Sheikh of Bahrein to withdraw his blockading
squadron from the Wahabi coast ; but considering the contumacy displayed by
him, they thought that the boat Humreh should not be returned to him, until
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. deemed^his conduct worthy of such consideration being
shown to him (letter No. 194, dated 23rd July 1861).
37. The Bombay Government also ask^d the Government of India for appro
val of the Treaty signed by the Chief, which though obtained without previous
express sanction, would in their opinion be justified in the circumstances and was
calculated to render the Sheikh more amenable, than he had for a very long time
been to those rules of conduct, his disregard of which had been for several
• years the occasion of alarm to his neighbours and.anxiety to the British Govern
ment (letter No, 59, dated the 23rd July 1861).
38. These strong measures elicited a remonstrance from the Turkish Gover
nor General of Baghdad. He wanted to know by what right we have had bom
barded Damaun, a place which, as lying within the territory of " Feysal Be^,
Turkish protest against British proceedings the Kaimmakam of Neid," was " part of
i01861 ' _ the hereditary dominions of the Sultan." To
which Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad replied that we had
hitherto " always maintained direct relations with Amir Feysal as well as with
all the Chiefs and Principalities situated on the shores of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. \
that our pacific policy in the Gulf was well known, and that in the prosecution of
that policy we had never acknowledged the authority or jurisdiction of any
other State—an authority or jurisdiction moreover which assuredly the Porte
neither does exercise nor has ever exercised in that quarter" In reporting this
correspondence to Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople the
Consul-General wrote as follows