'File 19/109 I (C 12) Bahrein Chief's relations with British Govt. and other Powers' [‎71v] (153/411)

2
between the high officials of the two Governments on the 30th August 1822
and signed by Sir William JBruce, the Special Commissioner of the British
Government. In the Agreememt in question the decision about the case was
as rollows:—
a ^ T T 116 . of Bal i r ein has always been a dependency of Fars. The Bani
Attabeh mhaoitants of the Island disobeyed the orders of the Fars authorities
and applied to the Military Commander for a flag. The flag will be taken
back it already given, and hereafter protection will be refused to the Arabs
mentioned above".
• i J 0 v; ew of , tlie clear expressions used in your previous note, in which the
nghts of the Persian Government over the Island in question have not been
denied, I hope you will continue to follow the former opinion of the British
Crovernment in regard to the rights of the Persian Government over that
s and, and you will not interpret my telegram addressed to the trading classes
in Bahrein to mean anything but a mark of friendship between the two
Governments. Ihe telegram in question does not in any way compromise the
rights of the Persian Government over the Island. If there is anv statement
to be made in regard to certain difficulties about the inhabitants of the Island
it is a separate question, which must be settled according to justice.
i i t N ^ TE ;~ J c ^ nnot I the exact English text of the Agreement referred to,
buti thmk the Grand A izier refers to the Agreement made in 1822 between
the British Resident at Bushire and the authorities in Fars. This Aoreement
was not; ratified by His Majesty's Government, and the Resident was
recalled.—A. K.
Annex.
Memorandum hy Mr, Brant on Agreement loith Persia of 30th August 1822
regarding Bahrein.
It is quite true that Captain W illiam Bruce (he was not at that time Sir
Mr, E. Grant Duff, No. 247, 26th September William) signed, OU the 30th August
19 Mr. g. Wiliock, No. 1.25th January 1822. i T 8 . 2 f' an Agreement with His Royal
tt 3 a i.' i p i • m Hl ^ lness IIoosai n Ally Mirza, Prince of
Slinaz. Ihe Ilnd Article of this Treaty was as follows :—
" The Island of Bahrein, which has always been subordinate to the Province
of I ars and its possessors, the Beni Uttoobee Arabs, who have of late been
unruly and disobedient, and had applied to the Commanding Officer of the
British Forces for a distinguishing flag ; this flag, if it has been granted, to he
withdrawn, and no assistance to be rendered to the Beni Uttoobee Arabs here-
after".
The 4th section of Article V contains an undertaking to give naval as
sistance to a Persian expedition against Bahrein.
This Agreement was entirely contrary to the views of the Government at
Bombay, and letters were written to the Prince of Shiraz disavowing the Treaty
m strong terms and announcing the recall of Captain Bruce. 3
Not only did the Indian Government disavow the Treaty but Mr G
Wiliock, British Representative at Tabreez, reported that—
" Mirza Baugur, Anhie, who had been deputed to Court to obtain the
ratification of the Treaty, did not meet with a favourable reception ; and His
Majesty the Shah whilst refusing his accordance to the stipulations, expressed
his displeasure that the Prince of Shiraz should have entered into anv engage
ments with the British Government without his knowledge and injunctions"?
This Agreement was therefore disavowed by the Indian Government in
the most explicit manner, and it appears to have failed to secure the sanction
or the Shah. ^
R W B
Foreign Office, 31st October 1906.