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'Memorandum on Bahrein' [‎6r] (11/62)

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The record is made up of 1 file (31 folios). It was created in 13 Jan 1947. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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11
if disappointed by Her Majesty's Government he was ready to throw himself
into the arms of Persia, informed him (October 1843) that the adherence of
Persia to his cause would not be recognised by Britain unless it was open and
declared.
41. In the course of his visits the ex-Sheikh entered into discussions with
the nephew of the Persian Sheikh of Bushire, who, while holding no official
position himself, promised him military assistance from Persia. On representa
tions being thereupon made to the Persian Prime Minister by Her Majesty's
Minister at Tehran, the Prime Minister " informed, me that Sheikh Suleiman
had acted with great presumption in having interfered in political affairs with
out having any authority from the Government, and he said that he would
reprimand him for his conduct. His Excellency added that Bahrein belonged
to Persia and that she would take possession of it when more pressing affairs
were disposed of. As I looked on this as mere idle boasting which w T as never
likely to be fulfilled, I thought it unnecessary to pursue the conversation."
42. It may be recorded that on a second visit of the ex-Sheikh to Bushire
from December 1843 to March 1844, he is stated to have been received with
distinction by the Persians, and to have offered, if reinstated, to pay the cost,
to remit in future a large annual tribute to the Shah, and to leave one son as
a hostage in Persia. His proposals were not, however, accepted by the Persian
Government.
43. In 1844 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. was instructed by
the Government of India to resist by force any attempt by Persia to establish
troops on the island pf Bahrein, louring the same year the ex-Sheikh, having,
while residing at Naband in South Persia, captured two Bahreini vessels, the
ruling Sheikh appealed to the Resident, with the result that an injunction was
issued by the Central Persian Government at the instance of the British envoy
directing the Governor-General of Fars to compel Sheikh Abdullah to give up
the boats he had taken and abstain from disturbing the peace of the Gulf.
Views of Her Majesty's Government on Persian Claim and on future
Policy, 1844-45
44. Consequent on indications that Persia intended to intervene in the
succession at Bahrein on behalf of the ex-Sheikh Abdullah the general question
of policy was considered by Her Majesty's Government in the early part of 1844
in the light of an intimation by the Government of India that they would see the
strongest objections to any such interference by Persia, which could not but
react adversely on British interests. As a result, Her Majesty's Minister was
informed (Foreign Office Despatch to Tehran, No. 23, dated" 1st'May, 1844), that
the question of the right of Persia to interfere and of the Indian Government
to prevent interference necessarily depends upon the validity of the pretension
put forward by Persia to the sovereignty of Bahrein. Her'Majesty's Govern
ment are ignorant of the grounds of such pretension, and, assuming those grounds
to be insufficient, they would claim for the British Government the right to
prevent, if it accorded with its policy to do so, any direct interposition of Persia
in the quarrels of rival claimants to the possession of Bahrein. The British
Government in India at present consider that any such disturbance as may be
occasioned by military operations on the part of Persia directed against" the
island of Bahrein would be injurious to British interests, and, therefore, unless
Persia can show that she has a clear and indisputable right to the sovereignty
of Bahrein; that she has exercised it without interruption under the dynasty of
the Kajar family; that consequently her present policy is directed to the main
tenance of her lawful claims and not to the assertion of a pretension not founded
on law, she must be prepared to encounter in any scheme of this kind the active
opposition of the British Government in India." In these circumstances the
Minister was instructed to inform the Persian Government that Her Majesty's
Government had heard with regret that that Government contemplated taking
part in the disputes respecting the Government of Bahrein; that such a proceeding
would be viewed with much jealousy by the British Government in India; and
that unless the right of Persia to interfere in the matter is beyond dispute,
any interference on her part might lead to unpleasant discussions with England.
For, although Her Majesty's Government do not dispute the right of Persia
as an independent Power to adopt any line of policy not inconsistent with its
engagements to foreign States which she might think advantageous to herself
they claim for themselves a corresponding right to judge and act in such matters
as they may think fit."
85—177
Teh. Desp.
86, Oct. 1843.
Lor. I, 875.
F.O. to Teh.,
No. 2.3, of
21.8.1844.
Hertslet, 6.
Lor. I, 876-7.

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Content

This printed memorandum, produced by the Foreign Office, dated 13 Jan 1947, deals with the history of Bahrein [Bahrain] from the point of view of the political status of the islands at various periods and dates since 1783, and contains copies of related correspondence and discussions. The principal authorities quoted in the memorandum are listed on folio 1v and appear as references in the right or left hand margin. The memorandum includes an index on folio 1r and a list of appendices on folio 1v. The index contains the the following sections:

  • Geographical situation;
  • Bahrein priot to 1783;
  • 1783-1820;
  • 1820-30;
  • 1830-40;
  • 1840-50;
  • 1850-61;
  • 1861-67;
  • Discussion and Incidents, 1868-70;
  • 1870-80;
  • 1880-92. From the conclusion of the First to the conclusion of the Second Exclusive Agreement with Her Majesty's Government;
  • 1892-1913. From the Second Exclusive Agreement to the Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913;
  • 1913-34;
  • Summary (A. Claims to or assertions of soverignty over Bahrein, 1783 to 1934. B. Basis of the Persian claim. C. Attitude of His Majesty's Government, 1820-1934);
  • Reference to Law Officers of the Crown;
  • Independent Status of Bahrein;
  • 1934-46 (Establishment of Naval Base at Bahrein; Persian Government's refusal to recognise visas and endoresments of Bahrein; Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Saudi Arabian Government regarding Transit Dues at Bahrein; The Liabilities of His Majesty's Government in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Treatment of Bahreinis in Persia; Bahrein Nationality and Property Laws; Treatment of Persians in Bahrein; Postal Services between Persian and Bahrein; Persian Government decree regarding import of Petroleum Products from Bahrein; Remarks of the Persian Prime Minister to the United States Ambassador; Recent references to Bahrein in the Persian Press).

The memorandum is marked 'Confidential' and 'The Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government'.

Extent and format
1 file (31 folios)
Arrangement

The file contains an index and list of appendices (folio 1) which make reference to paragraph and page numbers.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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'Memorandum on Bahrein' [‎6r] (11/62), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B485, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023506165.0x00000c> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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