'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎103r] (205/344)

Part VI—Chap. XLI-A.
185
No. 693, dated the let July 1829.
To—The Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt o! your despatches, dated the 12th and 19th
Alayj with enclosures, reiiarding the present state of affairs on the Arabian Coast and His
Highness the Imaum of Muscat's meditated attack on Balirein, and to acquaint you that the
Governor in Council approves of th^ tenor of your communications to His Highness as also
those to the Sheikh of Bahrein, on the subject at issue.
2. The Governor in Council concurs in the sentiments expressed by you regarding His
Highnesses views on Bahrein. However much that Prince may have erred in his late efforts
at extension of power and however impolitic it is to interfere in the warfare now existing
between him and the Arab Chiefs of the Gulf, it would be most unwise to allow the power of
this deserving Prince and useful petty State to be destroyed and that of a combination of
Chiefs substituted in its place. This would be alike injurious to an ally from whom we have
often derived aid and tr» the interests of trade of India which his father and him have been
alike zealous and successful in promoting. The Chiefs whom circumstances have united against
him would be more likely to turn the power which &uch success gave them to piratical than
commercial objects.
3. The Governor in Council however does not apprehend any such extreme as above stated
occurring, and if it did he has no doubt who should bw able to save our ally without embarras
sing ourselves further than by imposing some salutary restrictions upon his future ambition.
4. In the absence of such necessity of interference, the Governor in Council deems it pru
dent to continue towards His Highness the samecour-eas that hitherto pursued and is decidedly
of your opinion as to the inexpediency of sending any of the Company's vessels to the pearl
fishery this season. It is not proper for us even to interpose unless when we determine to make
our authority respected. In such a state of excited feeling of hostility as now exists among the
Arabs of ttie Gulf we could not expect to do that without coming to extremes with one of the
parties or perhaps both and such an occurrence is much to be deprecated. Besides there is
reason to expect that our withdrawing from the same will create alarm and cause losses that
may dispose many to desire peace and to seek an accommodation of their diuerences thiougli
the British Representative.
No. 1268, dated 26th October 1829.
To—The Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, dated the 5th September,
No. 80, transmitting copies of your correspondence with the Imaum of Muscat and Chief of
Bahrein on the subject of a reconciliation between those chieftains.
2. The Governor in Council highly approves of your conduct on the present occasion
and of the judicious manner in which you have maintained the important principle of an even
friendship towards all and a desire of restoring peace without allowing that desire to invdlve
Government in the embarrassment that must result from becoming guarantee of engagements
of which, from the characters of the parties, there would be likely to be continued infractions.
There is no doubt whatever that the continuance of such hostilities will prove ruinous to the
trade of the Gulf unless every act of piracy or plunder is instantly repressed, and this can only
be done by making the Chiefs to whom those that commit excesses belong, responsible for all
subject to them or who are their allies. Such conduct on our part steadily pursued will so
limit the operation of the belligerents as to render them unprofitable, and it neither party
obtains any very decided succees, they will soon seek our good offices upon the teims we are
disposed to grant them.