'File 12/1 [1 A/1 I] Persian Claims to Bahrain' [‎17r] (38/502)

..... ■'
M
11
l/i
»
*
appears to have lasted until 1838, under which Bahrein paid a
tribute and received guarantees of assistance against external
attack. In 1838 the Wahabi Amir was himself conquered
by the Egyptians. . . .
The Persians reasserted their claim in 183G, the Bahreini
nnswer being a renewaJ of their understanding with the
Wahabi Amirs.
In 1830, when faced by a demand for tribute irom
Egypt, Bahrein appealed to Persia, claimed to be a Persian
subject, and received a Persian envoy. But immediately
after she formally acknowledged Egyptian supremacy and
paid tribute to Egypt. The vdsit of the Persian envoy had
thus no effective sequel.
VI.—1840-50.
37. In 1840 the Government of India, provoked by the
attitude which the Sheikh had adopted, decided not to
restrain the Imam of Muscat in the event of his wishing to
conquer Bahrein. On 27th March 1840 the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy.
remarked to the Government of India “We consider our-
selves . . . relieved from all regard to the interests of the p r ^ c - S) ‘394
Sheikh of Bahrein, and we should be glad to hear that his
island was in possession of a friendly chieftain.’
38. Towards the end of 1840 the Imam of Muscat India Board
informed the Resident that while his views in regard to 22 .10.1840.
Bahrein remained unaltered, he had been restrained from
giving effect to them by his impression that Her Majesty’s
Government were averse to the prosecution of his claim
and that without their assistance or that of the Egyptians,
he would have no chance of success.
Expulsion of Sheikh Abdullah. Succession of Sheikh
Mohamed bin Khalifa (1843-68).
39. Internal dissensions in the Sheikhdom between the
ruler, Sheikh Abdullah, and his grand-nephew and co
ruler, Sheikh Mohamed, became increasingly bitter, and
Sheikh Mohamed was finally expelled from the island. In
November 1842 he was given permission by Her Majesty’s Lor. I, 866.
Government to attack Sheikh Abdullah. After a civil war
which lasted from January to April 1843, Abdullah was
expelled by Mohamed, who thereafter held the Sheikhdom,
no reply being sent to an appeal to restrain the attackers
which was made by Abdullah to the British authorities in
February 1843.
Intrigues of ex-Sheikh, 1843-49.
40. Between 1843 and 1849 the ex-Sheikh appealed at
various times for the assistance of the Wahabis, the Trucial
Sheikhs, the Sheikh of Koweit, and the British and Persian
authorities to enable him to recover his position. In 1843 Lor. I, 873.
Her Majesty's Government dissuaded Muscat from trying to
conquer Bahrein—considerations which weighed with them
being inter alia the risk of provoking the Wahabis and the
danger of giving Persia an excuse to espouse the cause of
the ex-Sheikh. In the same year the ex-Sheikh twice
visited Bushire, where he failed to find any consolation from
the Resident, who, on his stating that if disappointed by
Her Majesty’s Government he was ready to throw himself
into the arms of Persia, informed him (October 1843) that
the adherence of Persia to his cause would not be recognised
by Britain unless it was open and declared.
41. In the course of his visits the ex-Sheikh entered into
discussions with the nephew of the Persian Sheikh of
Bushire, who, while holding no official position himself,