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'Memorandum on Bahrein' [22v] (44/62)
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. .
Transcription
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44
I beg leave to bring this matter to the notice of your Excellency for your kind
consideration.
I have, &c.
HOVHANNES KHAN MOSSAED,
Persian Minister.
[E 220/51/91] (B)
Sir Austen Chamberlain to Hovhannes Khan Mossaed
Sir, Foreign Office, January 18, 1928.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the
26th November, containing the formal protest which the Persian Government have
seen fit to make against the terms of article 6 of the Treaty of Jeddah, concluded
on the 20th May, 1927, between His Britannic Majesty and His Majesty the King
of the Hejaz and Nejd and its dependencies, on the ground that the reference in
that article to the Islands of Bahrein is contrary to the territorial integrity
of Persia.
2. In reply, I shall be grateful if you will inform your Government that
His Majesty's Government are not aware of any valid grounds upon which the
claim of the Persian Government to sovereignty over these islands is or can be
based. Geographically, the islands are not a part of Persia, nor are the
inhabitants of Persian race. His Majesty's Government are aware that during
part of the 17th century and for some years during the latter part of the
18th century Bahrein was overrun and occupied by Persian troops, or by the
followers of certain chiefs from the eastern shores of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
; but it
appears to be established that in or about the year 1783 the Government of the
Shah were dispossessed of the islands by an invasion of Arab tribes under the
leadership of the direct lineal ancestor of the present Sheikh, and that since that
date the islands have never at any time been under the effective control of Persia.
3. The Persian Government have on various occasions alleged that their
claim to sovereignty over Bahrein has been recognised by His Majesty's Govern
ment. While it is not evident that, even if this assertion were justified, it would
confer on Persia the right of ownership which on other grounds appears so difficult
to establish. His Majesty's Government feel that they must once and for all
declare this statement to be entirely inadmissible.
4. The special treaty relations between His Majesty's Government and the
successive Sheikhs of Bahrein, to which reference is made in the Treaty of Jeddah,
have now been in existence for more than a century, the first in the series of under
takings by which those relations are regulated having been signed in the year
1820. The agreements have throughout been concluded on the basis that the
Sheikh of Bahrein is an independent ruler. His Majesty's Government do not
deny that the claim to independence of the Sheikh is one which has from time to
time been contested by the Government of the Shah, and in particular in the
discussions which took place in 1869, to w T hich reference is made in your note.
I desire, however, to point out that your Government are under a complete
misunderstanding in inferring from the terms of the communication made by the
late Earl of Clarendon to the Persian Minister on the 29th April, 1869, that any
recognition of the validity of the Persian claims to sovereignty in Bahrein was
at that time intended. In that note it was stated that Her Majesty's Government
had given due consideration to the protest of the Persian Government "against
the Persian right of sovereignty over Bahrein being ignored by the British
authorities,"" but it in no way admitted any such right. On the contrary, the
whole tenor of the note should have made it clear that Her Majesty's Government
maintained their right to enter into direct treaty relations with the Sheikhs of
Bahrein as independent rulers; and while at the same time it indicated that Her
Majesty's Government would gladly transfer to Persia, if she were able and
willing to perform them, certain duties in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
towards the
performance of which the treaty relations in question contributed, and offered,
in view of the friendly feelings entertained by Her Majesty's Government towards
Persia, to cause the Persian Government to be informed beforehand, when
practicable, of any measure of coercion which the conduct of the Sheikhs might
have rendered necessary, it is evident that no recognition of the validity of the
Persian protest, or of the Persian claim to suzerainty, was thereby intended or
implied. The note, in fact, as the Persian Legation at Constantinople was
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B485
- Title
- 'Memorandum on Bahrein'
- Pages
- 22r:22v
- Author
- Mossaed, Hovhannes Khan
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