'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎32r] (63/120)

5. The exact interpretation of a Protectorate is a general question of
international law into which the Government of India see no necessity to enter
on the present occasion. But, as regards the case of Bahrain, the facts appear
to them to be sufficient to establish the following conclusions. They are of
opinion that Great Britain is the Protectins: Power of Bahrain, and that
Bahrain is, therefore, in the present state of affairs, under the Protectorate of
Great Britain in the following sense :—
(?') The British Government, and they alone, as distinct from Turkey,
Persia, or any other Power, control the foreign relations of Bahrain. The
Shaikh has bound himself not to enter into relations with any other Power.
The British Government therefore undertake the protection of foreigners in
Bahrain.
{ii) The reciprocal aspect of this obligation is that Great Britain is bound
to protect the island from any external aggression or assault.
(Hi) Prom these circumstances it results that British influence and autho
rity are and must be in the ascendant in Bahrain. Primarily 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 British advice in such circumstances is the
return paid by the State for the advantages which British protection confers.
British rights in this respect were explicitly stated in the recent ultimatum
which was presented by you to the Shaikh on the 24th February ]905 in com
pliance with instructions. Further, if British advice must he accepted, it
follows that action in contravention of it, whether it takes the form of vacil
lation, of bad faith, or of open contumacy, cannot be tolerated, the Protecting
Power being the judge of the manner in which it will prohibit, reprimand, or
punish such action.
{iv) The British paramountcy in Bahrain is commercial as well as political
in character. This follows partly as a consequence of political predominance,
but still more, in the case of Bahrain, from the undisputed commercial predomi
nance of Great Britain in the islands and ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(«) The political position of Great Britain in Bahrain has given her not
merely an interest, but a recognised right of interference in the succession. It
was at the instance of the Shaikh himself that she recognised his eldi st son.
She holds herself at liberty to withdraw that recognition whenever—for pood
reasons—she may think it desirable, and to nominate another successor in his
place The exercise of this right is of course inconsistent with independent
sovereignty ; and it may be said to involve in a sense direct interference with
the internal affairs of the State. It is understood that no such right is claimed
in the case of any of the Trucial States A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. on the Arab coast of the Gulf, and
its frank admission by the Chief of Bahrain is the most explicit evidence
yet supplied of the dimensions which the Protectorate has already assumed.
(m) The case of the customs may be brought within the prerogative of the
Protecting Power, under more than one of the above-named heads, according to
the point of view from which it is regarded. Originally the appointment of a
British Customs officer was advocated by British Eesidents in the Gulf as a
mark of British authority. Then it was recommended in the interests of the
Shaikh ana the equilibrium of his tinances. Finally, it was urged in the
interests of Shaikh Hamed, his son, whose future position our recognition of
his claims to the succession required us to safeguard. Whichever of these views
be adopted, the insistence of Great Britain upon the measure may be regarded
as an illustration of the advice which, in virtue of her general controlling
authority, she deems it necessary to give, and which the Shaikh is not at liberty
permanently to disregard.
6. The above are, in the opinion of the Government of India, approxi
mately the limits of our Protectorate, so far as it has as yet been developed.
It follows from th'.s that for none of the claims put forward by the Political
Agent is there any justitication, and that he should not attempt to apply inter
ference or pressure in the various forms which ho suggests with a view to forc
ing the Shaikh to adopt premature relorms, but that he should devote himself to
the business of acquiring the confidence of the ruler. Instructions in this sense