'Memorandum on Bahrein' [‎11r] (21/62)

21
maintain order, but added that he hoped that before long the Shah's authority ^ e 0 h ' 8 ^ esp
would be fully established at Bahrein, when full redress would be given for losses i4.ii.i869.
suffered through the recent events, and that in the meanwhile it would not be con
sidered necessary that the British authorities should undertake coercive measures.
Her Majesty's Minister further reported that " Ali bin Khalifa having fowarded
letters to this court admitting his allegiance to the Shah and offering his services
to the Persian Government," an agent (Mirza Medhi Khan, who had been Persian
Envoy to Bahrein in 1859 (paragraph 67 above)) had been despatched with a
Royal Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , recognising Sheikh Ali bin Khalifan as Chief of Bahrein, but that
on receipt of the news of the murder of the Sheikh by the ex-Sheikh Mahomed bin
Khalifah, the Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). had been recalled and the name of the ex-Sheikh
substituted (from paragraphs 94-5 below it will be seen that these statements
subsequently proved to be incorrect in material particulars).
British Punitive Expedition (NoYember-December 1869)
88. Punitive operations consequent on the murder of Sheikh Ali were
undertaken by the British Government in November of the same year. Previous
notification was given to the Persian Government of the grounds of this
expedition, the object of which was stated to be "to call the chief now in Pol. Res. to
possession of Bahrein to account for his breach of the maritime peace and for the ^li.islia*
attack on Sheikh Ali bin Khalifah, who had been placed in power by the British
Government."
89. The Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs on receipt of the notification 15.11.1869.
in question stated that the ex-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifah, who had, he said,
been the cause of the recent disturbances, had been killed (this was in fact
incorrect); that the Resident's action would therefore be useless, and that the
Persian Government hoped that he would be telegraphically instructed not to
proceed to Bahrein. He added that the Persian Government would themselves
keep the affairs of Bahrein by land in order and that should anything happen to
affect its affairs by sea they would request the British Government to send a naval Teh. Desp. 83
force to put affairs in order, '' but up till now the state of affairs in Bahrein had of I6.ii.i869.
not fallen into disorder."
90. The Persian agent referred to in paragraph 87 above, arriving in the
Gulf at this stage, addressed letters to Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah (see
paragraph 86 above) intimating his recognition as Sheikh, and despatched them
by a special messenger, who proceeded to the island in a native boat belonging to
a Persian. The messenger was, however, on his arrival prevented by the
Resident from landing or communicating with the Sheikh, and his letters were Bushire Desp.
detained and ultimately handed by the Resident to Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah after the submission of that Sheikh, who returned them to Colonel Pelly
after perusal. The messenger stated that he had himself no authority from the
Shah's Government and was deputed by the Chief of Dayer, who was acting in
obedience to Mirza Mehdi Khan.
Submission of Usurping Sheikhs
Sheikh Isa bin Ali becomes Sheikh
91. The punitive operations against Bahrein resulted in the complete
submission of Sheikh Md. bin Abdullah and the ex-Sheikh Md. bin Kalifah in Pol. Res. to
September 1869. It may bo remarked that prior to the opening of operations m
Sheikh Abdullah made overtures to the Resident, which were, however, rejected, of^i.saseQ,
with a view to securing recognition by Her Majesty's Government. He also 2591869
appealed to the Wahabi Amir for recognition and protection. Sheikh Isa bin 184 of '
Ali, son of the murdered Sheikh Ali, voluntarily assumed the vacant Chiefship 6101869
and was recognised by the Resident on behalf of the Government of India (" in
no way did Colonel Pelly influence the succession ") and the ex-Sheikh and
Mohammed bin Abdullah were deported to India. Shortly after his installation Teh Des
the new Sheikh received a letter from one Hydar Khan, Zabit of the Dashti No. 94 of P '
district on the Persian coast, advising him to place himself under the Shah's 11121869 -
protection, but the incident appears to have been unimportant. n ? 7 D 3 P
12.1.1870.
Persian Protest , 1869-70
Views of Government of India
92. The Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs appears at first to have
received news of the removal of the ex-Sheikh with equanimity and is said to