'File 19/191 III (C 56) Bahrain, Persian Claim To' [‎97r] (212/396)

5
application, equally unsuccessful, to the Commander of the Lor T 847
British Expedition m the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . In the early part of ' ^
1820 the rulers of Bahrein made full submission to the Imam
of Muscat and agreed to pay him a tribute of 30,000 dollars
An instalment (12,000 dollars) of this tribute appears
subsequently to have been actually remitted.
P olicy of B ritish G overnment, 1819-20.
14. Ihe policy to be adopted by the British Government
in regaid to Bahrein was examined between the Government
of Bombay and the Government of India in 1819-20, and
was ultimately defined as one of complete neutrality. The Govt, of
transfei of Bahiein to the Imam of Muscat had been contem- Bombay to
plated, but this project, so far as the British Government ' ■'
were concerned, was now abandoned. The Government of 15121 ^ 1 ^
Bombay suggested that the Sheikh should be informed that paraS '
so long as he restrained his subjects from piracy he would
reap the advantage of a friendly neutrality on the part of
Britain, whereas should a piratical spirit manifest itself
forcible measures of coercion would be applied to him.
They added that the conclusion of an engagement in
general terms with the Sheikh " would probably tend to
convince the Uttabi Arabs of the integrity of our intentions."
British Offer to Persia of Mediation 1820.
15. Simultaneously the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , in a
despatch to the Charge d'Affaires at Tehran, remarked that Dated
" we mean to avoid all interference in respect of the island 15.12.1819,
of Bahrein. ... There is, however, reason to believe that P ai,a - 11 -
provided the Persian Government will consent to the Uttabis
continuing in the undisturbed occupation of Bahrein the
Sheikh would readily agree to pay them tribute, and for this
purpose the mediation of the British Government would be
gladly afforded provided it could be employed in such a
manner as to avoid anything which might in any shape
involve us in . the transactions of the parties after the
conclusion of the negotiation immediately referred to. . . . "
T reaty of 1820 between B ahrein and H is M ajesty's
G overnment.
16. On the 17th January 1820 the Sheikh agreed to
surrender certain pirate craft which had taken refuge in
his territories, and undertook to the British Government
not to admit any more boats of the same character until
authorised to do so by the British authorities. On the
5th February 1820 a preliminary Treaty of Peace was
signed between the Sheikh and His Majesty's Government,
and on the 23rd February 1820 the Sheikhs were admitted
to the benefits of the General Treaty of Peace which had Aitchison
been made between His Majesty's Government and the Arab Vol. XI,
rulers of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and under which His Majesty's - No - T " i ' 233 -
Government undertook, in return for abstention by those Aitchison,
rulers from piracy and the slave trade, that " if any shall
attack them the British Government shall take notice of it" 245-9 1X '
(Article 10). The Sheikh of Bahrein went so far as to Lt McLeod
claim subsequently that the treaty in question established to Govt, of
relations of protection and dependence between the British Bombay,
Government and himself, but it was made clear to him by
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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. while on a visit p aras . 30'
to Bahrein in 1823 that this was not the case. 64-5.
Proposal for British Mediation
hy Pers
17. On 10th May 1820 His Majesty's Minister at Tehran
reported to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. that he had been
received in audience by the Shah on 5th May and had put
2953 • B
Precis, 297.