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'File 19/109 VI (C 45) Bahrain Relations with Foreign Powers' [92r] (200/520)
The record is made up of 1 volume (256 folios). It was created in 1 Jun 1931-30 Sep 1933. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
J
■ THIS POeU lW ENT IS THE PR OPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC M AJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
PERSIA. , , 10 r 01
- - ■ - September 18, 1931.
CONFIDENTIAL
Section 7.
[E 4740/455/91] No ., x.
Mr. Dodd to the Marquess of Read 18.)
(No. 494.)
My L WTT n -p + at o ' 9, 1931.
oi . i. reference to Mr. Secretary Henderson's despatch No. 472 of the
21st ultimo, I have the honour to report that I am not in favour of adopting the
measures of retaliation suggested 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.
^ ;n ^ eai ? s . 0 \ coerc ^ n g the Persian Government into modifying their treatment
o Bahi emis m Persia, nor even of threatening the Persian Government with
such retaliation. In my opinion, such a course is unlikely to achieve the desired
result of ameliorating the situation of Bahreinis in Persia. The Persian
Government cannot be credited with any such tenderness for their subiects as the
contrary supposition implies. I fear that the Persian authorities' zea] fiiight
even be whetted in hunting down their victims.
'' ll ' proposal to treat Persian subjects in Bahrein as subjects of the
sheikh does not appear to me even to be logical. His Majesty's Government and
the sheikh have all along maintained that Bahrein is a State'mdependent of and
distinct from Persia. Persians are aliens in Bahrein, and I can see no grounds
on which they could reasonably be regarded as Bahreinis. It would be logical
and consistent to withdraw from Persians the special privileges enjoyed bv them
in common with other foreigners.
3. The
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.
, Bahrein, who has been staying with me for the last
three days, has privately informed me that he Avould not regard with equanimity
the termination of his jurisdiction over so large an alien colony, since it would
have the effect of undermining his influence. On the other hand, the closing of
the Persian schools and the interdiction of the Pahlavi cap would be an even
sorer offence to Persian amour-fropre, and if any such measure of retaliation be
resolved upon, it is this which he, for his private part, would recommend. But I
am, speaking personally, unable to approve of inflicting hardships on these
Persians for the sins of their Government, of which they are innocent.
4. The attitude of the Persian Government in this question has been, in
their own eyes, consistent. For them, Bahrein is part of Persia, and Bahreinis
Persian subjects. It follows that when legislation is passed making life more
burdensome for Persian subjects, such as, for instance, the conscription law,
Bahreinis must shoulder the burden with the rest. When I complained of the
persecution of Bahreinis to the Minister for Foreign Affairs recently, he wished
me to accept this view. He did not deny that conditions had become more
burdensome for Bahreinis; but he argued that his own son had been conscripted.
To ask the Persian Government to exempt the Bahreinis is to ask them to abandon
their claim in favour of that of His Majesty's Government. It is true that the
Minister of Court did undertake to see to it that Bahreinis were not molested.
That undertaking was, however, a derogation from the Persian aspect of the
status quo, and has since been, in fact, dishonoured. On the other hand, any such
measure of retaliation as that suggested to Lieutenant-Colonel Biscoe would be
an actual and admitted breach of the st on the part of His Majesty's
Government. It would be proclaimed as such. This departure would place
His Majesty's Government dialectically, if not morally, in a disadvantageous
position. It would be taken by the Persian Government as justification for any
counter-measures in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
which they chose to take—although I
scarcely believe that the Persians' timorous character would allow them to take
any very drastic steps. It would, however, assuredly lead the Persian
Government to seize the occasion loudly to reassert their claims to the sovereignty
over Bahrein. They might even protest again to the League of Nations.
5. But some day the negotiations for a general treaty will presumably be
reopened; and an overt breach of the sta by His Majesty's Government
now might handicap the British representative from the start. It would be
[254 s—7]
About this item
- Content
This file contains correspondence between British officials regarding the harassment and mis-treatment of Bahrainis resident in Persia, notably in the town of Mohammerah (present day Khorramshahr).
Much of the correspondence concerns the arrest of a Bahraini trader named Haji Hamid and reports that the Persian government is forcing Bahrainis to give up their Bahraini nationality and adopt Persian nationality.
The correspondence discusses how the British should respond to Persia's actions and the broader implications of any such response. The detention of a Bahrain Government official in Persia (Jaafar Ben Abdullah Saleh) is also discussed as is correspondence regarding the exact number of Bahrainis then resident in Persia.
The file also contains documents relating to foreign representation (or lack thereof) in Bahrain, the undesirability of the USA establishing a consulate in the country and practicalities regarding a visit to Bahrain of Paul Knabenshue, the Minister Resident of the USA in Baghdad.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (256 folios)
- Arrangement
File is arranged in chronological order, from earliest at beginning of the file to most recent at end.
- Physical characteristics
Formerly a bound correspondence volume, the file's sheets have been unbound and are now loose. There are various foliation sequences. The most complete sequence is written in pencil, in the very top right corner. It begins on the title page and runs through to f.247, the spine of the volume, which has been separated and placed in a plastic sheet. The following details should be noted: f.1 is followed by f.1A and f.1B; f.115 is followed by f.115A; f.163 is followed by f.163A; f.163A is stored in an envelope that is attached to f.163; f.164 is followed by f.164A; f.165 and f.166 are stored in an envelope that is attached to f.164A; f.167 is followed by f.167A; f.168, f.169 and f.170 are stored in an envelope that is attached to f.167A.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/323
- Title
- 'File 19/109 VI (C 45) Bahrain Relations with Foreign Powers'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, spine-a:spine-b, front-i, i-r:ii-v, 1r:1v, 1ar:1bv, 2r:141v, 143r:162v, 166r:166v, 168r:169v, 172r:172v, 174r:174v, 177v:224v, 227r:246v, iii-r:vii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence