'Memorandum on Bahrein' [‎7r] (13/62)

that they would .... very much disapprove of any attempts on the part of
Persia to interfere in the affairs of that island and thus disturb the peace of
the Gulf and to afford an opening to piracy." The question appears to have
dropped for the time being.
Treaty of Peace with Wahahis, to whom Bahrein yays Tribute (1847)
50. Meanwhile, the ex-Sheikh (who in 1845 had unsuccessfully attempted Lor. I, 877.
to capture Bahrein with the aid of the Wahabis) had been invited in June
1846 by the Governor-General of Fars to return to Bushire, where he should Lor. i, 877.
be liberally entertained " until .... the season for action had arrived," but
he declined the invitation. In October 1846 the Wahabi Amir asked the per- Lor. I, 880.
mission of the Resident to call in the Trucial Sheikhs of the Arab littoral against
Bahrein. This was refused. A request by the ruling Sheikh of Bahrein to
be allowed to call in the assistance of the Sheikh of Debai against the Wahabis
was equally refused in November 1846. In August 1847 a Treaty of Peace
was concluded between the Wahabi Amir and the ruling Sheikh, under which
the ruling Sheikh agreed to pay a tribute of 4,000 dollars a year, while the
W^ahabi Amir agreed not to encourage the ex-Sheikh.
Slavery Treaty with Great Britain, 1847
51. On 8th March, 1847, Her Majesty's Government entered into a
Slavery Treaty with the ruling Sheikh.
Turkish Designs on Bahrein, 1847
52. In the same year the first Turkish claim to suzerainty over Bahrein
was put forward, the Turkish Mutasallim During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. of Basra writing 'to the Sheikh
inviting him to declare his allegiance to the Sultan and to submit lists of his
shipping for registration. These overtures were evaded by the Sheikh, while
the Porte assured Her Majesty's Government that they did not intend to use
compulsion against him; but that " if the Governor of Bussorah had attempted
by negotiation to induce any of the Maritime Chiefs of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to
return to their allegiance to the Porte, they could not disapprove his doing so."
Persian Intrigues, 1848
53. ^ In the following year correspondence took place between the Persian Bushire to
Consul-General at Bagdad, the ex-Sheikh (whom he advised to press ahead, since Tehran,
Persia would surely assist him) and the ruling Sheikh, whom he addressed in fe.iils ot
friendly terms. The correspondence was put a stop to consequent on represen
tations by the British Resident at Bagdad. In 1849 the ex-Sheikh died.
Views of Her Majesty's Government on Future Policy, 1847-49
54. I he overtures made by the Turks in 1847 gave rise between 1847 and
1849 to consideration by 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. , the Government of India,
and Her Majesty's Government of the policy to be adopted in regard to Bahrein.
Ihe Sheikh hinted in 1847 that unless certain grievances were met he might
become a Turkish subject. His grievances were accordingly remedied by 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. . That Government represented, however, that it was
desirable to exclude interference in Gulf affairs by foreign Powers, since unless
Her Majesty's Government retained the supreme control they could not secure the
permanence of the objects (the suppression of piracy, &c.) on which so much
money had been spent. The Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. concurred in the Government of
Bombay's recommendation " that any attempts upon Bahrein ought to be resisted
by the British Naval Force " and that the Resident should be so informed.
55. On 11th October, 1847, the Foreign Office, in a letter to the India Board,
in which they referred to recent Turkish assurances that the Turkish Govern
ment had no intention of using compulsion with regard to Bahrein, added that
" if the Indian Government has any further apprehensions on the subject, and if
the Bahrein Chief is really an independent ruler, the best course would be to
make with him a treaty of alliance which would secure his independence and his
friendly connection with England." The Resident, who deemed it inexpedient
that Her Majesty's Government should involve itself in the embarrassments
likely to arise from a closer alliance with Bahrein (letter of 25th January, 1848),
was, however, opposed to making the existing connection closer, as were the
Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. of the East India Company, who expressed the view that the
Lor. I, 881.
F.O. to India
Bd., 28.9.1847.
Lor. I, 881.
Bo. to Res.,
334 of
31.7.1847.