'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎9v] (27/478)

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75. Yet Ibn ; and now found it inconsistent with his dignity as an independent
ruler to accept the phrase " to refrain from all aggression or interference, more
particularly because the word interference seemed to him capable of too wide an
interpretation (vide Section 1, the 26th January, 1927).
He has now asked us for the terms of our treaties, which he knows leave the
rulers in question independent, though they may not hold communication with
foreign Powers.
But they do hold communications with Ibn Sand.
76. Am I, then, an alarmist when I consider that, with the growth and advance
of the Wahabi power, with the activity reported by 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. (wa#
paragraph 61), with the absorption of principalities foreshadowed as possible m
paragraph 8 of Foreign Office letter [E 6118/180/91], dated the 3rd November,
1926.* ■ have food for thought. . ^ , .
In 1870 Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Wali of Bagdad, formulated a definite claim to Bahrein
as appertaining to the Qaim Majamteq of Nejd, and geographically it belongs to
Qatar and Hasa. . . ,
We have found that the growth of nationalist spirits in China, in Persia, and
in the East generally, has produced new circumstances, which we have had, at any
rate partially, to accept. Would not the growth of a nationalist Arab and Islamic
spirit make our position in Bahrein a matter of considerable difficulty, if that
position were left in its present undefined condition.
77. My more definite suggestions in this reference I make in my accompanying
despatch on our position with regard to internal affairs in Bahrein.
A copy of this despatch is being sent to His Majesty s Minister, Tehran.
I have, &c.
L. HA WORTH,
p/e ■ Xlf-i Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Haworth to the Foreign
gj r 1, 1927.
IN my accompanying despatch No. 294—S, dated to-day, I have dealt at length
with the history of Bahrein, the growth of our political interest m it, and.
international claims with reference to the archipelago. 1 . ,
I now propose to deal with the development of our concern m the purely internal
affairs of the island up to the present day. , . , ,
2. This interest may be said to date from 1877; I quote extensively from
Lorimer
In 1869, we had installed Sheikh Isa as ruler of the island, and it was entirely,
and only, due to our support, that he had been able to keep his position.
Since the year mentioned the British Government considered that they were
bound " to prevent grave outrage or oppression by the ruler, or, at any rate, not to
remain unconcerned spectators of such acts of violence, but rather use their influence
to repress them." In consequence, the Resident was authorised to convey to
Sheikh Isa and to his brother. Sheikh Ahmad, who was his chief adviser and had a
stronger character than the sheikh, the emphatic disapproval of Government at an
act which the latter had committed in killing a first cousin of the sheikh, and to
convey a warning against such conduct in the future. • n i.
The above statements are the key to all future developments m Bahiein
3. From 1877 to 1900 we were chiefly concerned with external matters, though
attempting with our advice to improve internal conditions. At this time the
financial condition of the State seems to have given us most concern, and we were
attempting to improve the customs system, which had much leakage.
Up to 1879 the Assistant Resident in Bushire occasionally spent some time on
thp islands but in 1900, as will be seen in the body of the report, an uncovenanted
official was appointed to reside on the island^ By this time Lord Cnrzon
was Viceroy and it is probable his interest m the Gulf and Persian affairs focussed
our attention on matters connected with it. In 1903, on his visit to Bahrein Lord
Curzon considered that an officer of the Political Service would have more influence
* See " Eastern " volume, Fart XIX, No. 50.