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'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎11r] (30/478)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (235 folios). It was created in 20 May 1927-17 Nov 1928. It was written in English, Arabic 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. .

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protection 6 1116 Island of Bahrein ancl its natives were under British
^ 0 ti!t e ?i 2 T h 4 ug , us V 1895 ' British Ambassador had informed the Porte
that all Turkish claims to Bahrein, which was under the protection of the
Queen of England, were totally inadmissible.
16. Major Cox had in his letter stated :—
tmnnfinn ^? 0 ^ Se ? ^uT ^ ex P ect anything but periodical trouble from a con-
tmuation of our laudable endeavour to carry on the government of the islands
through the rule of a chief who has shown himself to possess few, if any of the
and of trade* 3 neCeSSc lP 7 t ^ e maintenance of order, the security of the person?
His Majesty s Government did not accept Major Cox's suggestion, but resolved
to follow a more cautious policy. It was decided that for the time being the activity
+ 0 ; th l™ sl1 P oll tical authorities should be confined to the direction and control of
if lir S external relations and that the amelioration of the internal government
tru^t of the 0 she^kh indirect and Pacific means and by gaining the confidence and
. ^ The position and influence of Great Britain were, however, so Lonmer
states undoubtedly consolidated by the crisis of 1904-05 and the relations of the
sneikh with the British 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. improved, though the former still regarded
oners 01 advice as attempts to undermine his authority.
Trade increased by over 50 per cent., but no progress was made in the matter of
customs reform.
j ^ W i as / £ e ^ t some features of the internal administration were not
creditable to the protecting British power "—I quote from Lorimer.
The slave trade still flourished and slaves were freely imported from Qatar and
atttv . 1 ^ p P re f slon 1 ? f sub j ects was rife not only by the sheikh and the members of the
Jvnaliieh, the ruling family, but also by petty magistrates and revenue authorities
and specially by the Qazis, who grossly abused their functions. The chief sufferers
were the aboriginal cultivating population, called the Bahama, Shiahs by religion,
who lived m a condition of virtual serfage and were liable to forced labour and similar
hardships.
In 1905 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 authorised to manumit slaves in suitable and
deserving cases.
l 8 - Jn 1906 rumours were current, which were not devoid of foundation, that
the sheikh desired to place himself under the protection of Turkey; but in 1909 we
were apparently sufficiently pleased with him to raise his salute of guns to eleven.
19 On the 14th September, 1905, however, the Government of India had laid
down their idea of their position vis-a-vis Bahrein. They wrote to the Secretary of
State that " Great Britain is the protecting Power of Bahrein, and Bahrein is there-
tore under the protection .... of Great Britain in the following sense
(1.) The British Government, and they alone, as distinct from Persia, Turkey
or any other Power, control the foreign relations of Bahrein. The sheikh
has bound himself not to enter into relations with any other Power. The
British Government therefore undertake the protection of foreigners.
(2.) The reciprocal aspect of this obligation is that Great Britain is bound to
protect the islands from any external aggression or assault.
(3.) It results that British influence and authority are and must be in the
ascendant in Bahrein. This influence is political both in character and
origin, and it gives Great Britain the right to claim that in any matter
to which she attaches high importance her advice must be followed. The
acceptance of this advice is the return paid by the State for the advantages
which British protection confers. The British rights were explicitly
stated in the ultimatum presented to the sheikh on the 24th February,
1905. If British advice must be accepted, action in contravention of it'
whether it takes the form of vacillation, bad faith, or open contumacy
cannot be tolerated. '
(4.) British paramountcy is commercial as well as political."
20. After the event of 1904-05 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. , though not directly
empowered by an Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , assumed jurisdiction over foreigners (an Order
m Council to rectify this was introduced in 1919).
J!)

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Content

This file contains correspondence between British officials in Bushire, Bahrain and India regarding the Persian government's claim of sovereignty over the island of Bahrain. The broader historical context of Persia's claim to the territory is outlined in detail in the documents.

The likelihood of the Persian claim being taken to the League of Nations is discussed as is the alleged role of Russian support in encouraging the Persian government to push their claim.

Correspondence regarding Persian 'agitation' and propaganda efforts on the island are also contained in the file, including a translation of an article published in a Persian newspaper criticising Britain and supporting the Persian goverment's claim to Bahrain.

Extent and format
1 volume (235 folios)
Arrangement

File is arranged in chronological order, from earliest at beginning of the file to most recent at end.

An index of topics covered in the file is contained on folio 2 and uses the uncircled foliation system.

Physical characteristics

Originally a bound correspondence volume, the file's sheets have been unbound and are now loose. Foliation starts on first page with writing (2nd folio in volume). Small encircled numbers in pencil on top right corner of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. . Correspondence in Arabic (f.185-f.187) is foliated on verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. . There are two foliation errors: f.108A and f.108B; f.198A and f.198B.The 4 blank pages after f.223 are not foliated. Additional pagination starts with page 1 on f.4. In this system, only pages with writing are counted.

Written in
English, Arabic and French in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 19/191 I (C 27) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎11r] (30/478), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/356, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023510720.0x00001f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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