'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎6v] (21/478)

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Basra, apparently for the first time. The sheikh was invited to declare his allegiance
to the Sultan and to submit a detailed list of his shipping in order that it might
be registered under the Turkish flag.
For various reasons the sheikh was disposed to accept this advance on the part
of the Turkish Government.
30. This caused the Bombay Government to state that it was obviously desirable
to exclude interference by foreign Powers in the affairs of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , inas
much as without retaining supreme authority the British Government could not
hope to secure the performance of the objects' which they had attained in that
quarter at a large expense.
The board of directors concurred in their recommendation that " any attempts
upon Bahrein ought to be resisted by the British naval force." The Resident, Major
Hennell, was authorised to ascertain whether the sheikh was inclined to enter into
a. closer connection with the British power, and some months later Sheikh Mohammed
expressed a wish that his sheikhdom should be taken under British protection, but
in 1849 the Resident was directed to decline the proposal of the sheikh, but to assure
him of the continuance of the goodwill and friendship of the British Government.
In 1850 the sheikh was on bad terms with us. and sent insulting messages to
the Resident.
31. In 1851 the sheikh was on the point of succumbing to the Wahabis when
a British squadron arriving took the islands under their wing.
In the same year a claim by the Porte to the sovereignty over Bahrein was
summarily rejected by the British Government.
32. In 1853 the British Government authorised 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. to
offer every obstacle to an attack upon these islands by the Wahabi Amir, who was
now nominally subject to the Ottoman Empire, on the ground that Her Majesty's
Government would no't permit the occupation of Bahrein by the Turkish Government
or by anyone acting for them or in their interest.
In 1859 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. squadron was again despatched for the protection of
the islands, and the Wahabi Governor sued for pardon.
33. In 1859 Sheikh Mohammed made simultaneous application for protection
to the Persian Governor of Pars, and to the Turkish Vali of Bagdad.
The response of the Turks was delayed, but a Persian agent, one Mirza Mehdi
Khan, a well-known Anglophobe, almost immediately arrived in Bahrein, the
Persian flag was hoisted, and Persian sovereignty proclaimed. Scarcely, however,
had these ceremonies been performed when Mohammed Bey, the emissary of the
Mustafa, Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , appeared, the Persian flag was again lowered and the Turkish
flag raised into its place—to complete the absurdity the Persian agent refused to
leave Bahrein or surrender his imaginary authority.
34. Sir Henry Rawlinson, the British Minister in Tehran, differed from
Captain Felix Jones, the Resident, and regarded the matters as of slight account.
He contented himself with obtaining from the Shah's Minister an assurance that no
military occupation of Bahrein should be undertaken by Persia until the question
of title had been settled by diplomatic discussion.
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. instructed the Resident not to interfere with the
occupation of Bahrein, whether by Turkey or Persia, otherwise than by a protest,
and by an intimation that the matter had been reported to Her Majesty's Govern
ment, and that aggression on the neighbouring tribes would be prevented by force
if necessary.
While discussion on the subject was continuing, the Turkish and Persian agents
apparently vanished from Bahrein.
35. In 1861 the sheikh commenced hostilities against Hasa, but was brought
to his senses by the despatch of Her Majesty's ships to the spot. He made submission
and signed a'convention in May of that year, acknowledging the validity of the
treaties and conventions concluded with the British Government by his predecessors,
and undertook to recognise the jurisdiction of the British agent and the Political
Resident over British subjects of every kind in Bahrein, and to allow the latter to
reside in his dominions.
One result of this convention was to assimilate the position of the Sheikh of
Bahrein, who was not a party to the Perpetual Treaty of Peace, to that of the
trucial chiefs.
36. In 1863 the chief was again behaving badly, and at the end of 1865 the
Resident seized one of his war vessels. The Persian Government, who had in 1862
complained about a similar incident, now complained again on the ground that.