'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎10v] (29/478)

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and had been informed, in reply, that the British Government would take action on
their behalf.
An undesirable incident, in which a German was assaulted, occurred about the
same time, in which no redress could be obtained.
12. On the 21st January, 1905, the Viceroy despatched a message to the
Secretary of State, from which the following is an extract:—
" The incidents reported appear, in our opinion, to warrant and necessitate
vigorous measures with sheikh, who is only encouraged in his obstinacy by our
continued forbearance.
" His obstinate attitude in regard to proposed customs reforms was
explained in our despatch of the 21st April, 1904, and apart from this present
case he has shown a disposition to ignore the advice of our new 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. .
The appeals for our assistance received from subjects of the German and Persian
Governments seem to minimise grounds for any international objection, and
makes the present opportunity favourable for proclaiming our protectorate."
13. The Resident, Major Cox, spent four days discussing the case of the
Persians, but without result, the sheikh maintaining that Persians were under his
jurisdiction and that the case must be tried by the Bahrein courts.
The status of the Persians as foreigners resident upon an island under British
protection, together with the certainty of injustice being perpetrated should the
case be made over to a Sunni tribunal, forbade any concession on this point. Dead
lock ensued, and Major Cox left the island on the 10th December to report the
situation to Government. On the 23rd February, 1905, he returned to Bahrein as
the bearer of demands authorised by His Majesty's Government upon Sheikh Isa.
He had been empowered to enforce compliance with the same by naval force, if
necessary, and the British cruiser H.M.S. " Fox," and the gunboats H.M.S.
" Redbreast " and H.M.S. " Sphinx," were assembled in the harbour.
An ultimatum was delivered to the sheikh, from which the following is an
extract of the orders received from Government:—-
" Demands should be prefaced by a reference to the long-continued support
accorded to the rulers of Behrein and to the present sheikh by the British
Government, who caused the usurper to be expelled, himself to be installed, and
the succession of his son to be recognised.
" The sheikh should be reminded of his assurances to follow the advice of
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ."
14. Government in their memorandum of demands directed the Resident to
state :—
"You have not maintained your friendship towards the British Govern
ment, and have conducted yourself in a manner which cannot be permitted to
continue. In the event of any continuance or repetition of an unfriendly
attitude, all support and assistance, whether diplomatic or military, which you,
or your predecessors, have enjoyed will be withdrawn from you, and may possibly
take another direction."
A warning was conveyed to Hamad, the heir apparent, whose attitude through
out the crisis had been as little satisfactory as his father's, that the ultimate
recognition of his claims by the Government of India would depend upon his future
conduct.
15. In his No. 123, dated the 11th March, 1905, Major Cox stated that he
regarded it as a matter of considerable regret that the exigencies of Imperial politics
did not admit of our making our moral protectorate into an open and effective one
at the present juncture. In a later letter, he stated that he based suggestion he had
made on the facts that;—
(1.) The Prime Minister in a speech had referred to Bahrein as a British
Protectorate.
(2.) On the 21st January, 1905, the Government of India had expressed the
opinion to the Secretary of State that the present opportunity seemed
particularly favourable for proclaiming a protectorate.
(3.) On the 22nd February, 1905, His Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs
intimated to the Turkish Ambassador that it was a matter of common