'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎8r] (24/478)

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52. In 1895 the British Government intervened forcibly to prevent an invasion
from Qatar and attacked the tribes at Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. on the mainland, who were supported
by Turkish officers. The Turkish Government protested, but the British Govern
ment replied that it did not recognise Turkish jurisdiction on the coast of Qatar.
From this date forward, though Turkish claims persisted, no actual fear of
annexation occurred.
53. In 1897 the Constantinople Board of Health proposed to establish a
sanitary post in Bahrein, but the proposal was abandoned on the statement by the
British delegate that Bahrein was under British protection.
In 1898 the Porte, professing that «they had heard that a British vice-consul
had been appointed to Bahrein, requested Her Majesty's Government to apply to
them for an exequatur, a request which naturally was not considered.
54. In 1905 the Porte were again informed that Bahrein was under British
protection. At this time our relations with Sheikh Isa were very strained, and in
1906 rumours not devoid of foundation were current that the sheikh desired to place
himself under the protection of Turkey.
55. In the meantime the Persian Government had continued to press their
claim to the islands. In 1899 our Minister informed the Persian Government that
since 1880 the Sheikh of Bahrein had been precluded by treaty from holding direct
relations with foreign Powers, and that his subjects were under British protection.
56. In 1905 the Persian Government refused to consider Bahrein subjects
residing in Persia as being under British protection. In February 1906 the
Legation informed the Persian Government that they maintained the British right
to exercise good offices on behalf of Bahreinis, and declared the Persian claim to be
entirely inadmissible. They stated that the island was under British protection, and
that the Ottoman Government, who had on several occasions advanced a claim to
Bahrein, had invariably received this reply. On this the Grand Vizier again raised
the question, and referred to Captain Bruce's agreement of 1822. In reply it was
pointed out that the agreement in question, so far from having been ratified, had
been expressly repudiated by the British Government, and that the Shah had also
withheld his approval, and had'censured the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Shiraz for entering
into such an agreement without his authority.
57. Thus, though both Turkey and Persia had been informed by the British
Government that Bahrein was under British protection, neither of them had, up to
1914, when war broke out, waived their claims to that place.
58. In 1910 the political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrein, reported that two Persian merchants
were issuing passes for travel to Persian subjects in Bahrein, while the Persian
officials in Persian ports were taking 100 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. security from Persian travellers to
ensure that their passports on return were vise by Abdul Nabi Kazeruni, a Persian
merchant residing at Manameh, the capital of Bahrein.
The matter was reported to Tehran, but the Foreign Office decided that it was
undesirable to raise the question by a protest to Tehran.
59. Presumably the custom continued until 1913, for in that year the political
agent again reported the incident, but brought successful pressure to bear on the
merchant to make him discontinue this practice. Reports show that in 1914 two
other merchants were viseing passes, but the signature of any known merchant or the
political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. was accepted.
60. The German firm of Wonckhaus had been established at Bahrein since
1901, and in 1909 the German Hamburg-Amerika agent appeared desirous of
supporting the Turkish claim, for ships of that line hoisted the Turkish flag while
lying in harbour. On the political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. taking up the question the practice was
stopped.
In 1913 Ibn Saud captured Hasa, and with this,and the Great War,Turkey
faded out of the picture.
61. During the war Ibn Saud established a commercial forwarding agent at
Bahrein, and he began to take some interest in Bahrein affairs.
During the war period there was nothing to notice. At its termination,
however, Ibn Saud began to take more interest in Bahrein, and he encouraged the
Dowasir tribe in its contumacy by offering them sanctuary in Hasa.
The political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. reported ;—
" Ibn Saud is seeking to interfere in Bahrein affairs, and it is to his
advantage that inefficient administration should continue, so as to enable him
to make secret alliances with independent factions, such as the Dowasir."
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