'Memorandum respecting British interests in the Persian Gulf' [‎30r] (25/126)

3905.
Admiralty,
April 1, 1905.
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. ,
October 20, 1905.
1904.
Memorandum
communicated by
M. Cambon,
July 27, 1904.
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. .
August 31, 1904.
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. ,
Septembers, 1904.
Inclosme in
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. ,
October 15, 1904.
obdurate, and a naval demonstration took place,
A Memorandum of demands — including pay
ment of a tine, the banishment of certain
individuals, the formation of a guard for the
bazaar, and an admission that sukhra, or forced
labour, should not be imposed on foreigners—was
presented to the Sheikh, and acceptance of it was
enforced.
On the 27th July, 1904, the French Ambassador
communicated a private Memorandum to Lord
Lansdowne, suggesting that, as French citizens
had established themselves at Bahrein for the
purpose of pearl-fishing, the jurisdiction of the
Irench Vice-Consul at Bushire should be ex
tended to that island.
The 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. were disposed to agree to
the proposal, provided the French Vice-Consul
addressed his representations to 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. . On this point the Government
of India stated that they would only recognize
the French Vice-Consul at Bushire as Vice-
Consul for Manama (Bahrein) on the clear
understanding (1) that his exequatur be obtained
from His Majesty’s Government; (2) that his
dealings be with the British Political Officer
alone; (3) that he should acquire no extra
territorial jurisdiction. The Government of India
furtln r stated that they preferred postponement
of the question until our position as regards the
pearling banks had been established, especially
as it had been raised in connection with the
proposed pearling enterprise of the French,
to which the Arabs objected. The Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. stated that, subject
to the conditions suggested by the 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. ,
the appointment would perhaps be a useful
recognition of our quasi British Protectorate
over Bahrein; and he should for this reason
have recommended acceptance, if the motive
had not been the admitted desire of French
merchants to gain access to the pearl fisheries.
The Government of India were of opinion that
the best solution was to drop the question, and
this seems to have been done.
Bahrein Customs.
The administration of the Customs at Bahrein,
which is a minor centre of the arms traffic, has for
a considerable time engaged the anxious attention
of the Government of India.
[1098]
K