File 791/1904 Pt 3 'Orders-in-Council: Bahrain' [‎8r] (20/199)

CONFIDENTIAL.
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This document is the property of the Secretary of State for India in Council.
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. ,
24tli July 1911.
In continuation of previous correspondence ending with the
letter of this Office dated the 18th April last, communicating copy of
the Viceroys telegram of 13th April 1911, I am directed by the
Secretaiy of State for India to enclose, for the consideration of the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a letter* from the
Grovernment of India submitting a draft of the proposed Order in
* tti n , , 0 , Council for Bahrein. It will be
* Foreign Department, Secret, No. 67,
dated 8th June 1911 (with copy of Political remembered that, in view of the
appended)?^ 0 28 ’ dated ^ April 1897 ’ local peculiarities to be provided for,
that Government were requested to
prepare the draft in the first instance.
As regards what is said in the second paragraph of their letter,
I am to observe that the Marquess of Crewe sees no reason to question
the capacity of the Sbeik to divest himself of his responsibility of
exercising jurisdiction over foreigners in his territory, or the effective
ness for its purpose of the document that he has signed as between the
Sheikh and the British Government. But the question still remains
whether the jurisdiction could safely be exercised over subjects of
foreign civilized powers without the assent given generally or in the
particular case of the power concerned. On this point the Secretary
of State will be glad to receive the opinion of the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs before he proceeds further.
The terms of the draft Order will, doubtless, receive the careful
attention of Secretary Sir E. Grey, but Lord Crewe, as at present
advised, sees no reason why they should not be agreed to, and he accepts
the conclusions of the Government of India on the special points referred
to in paragraph 3 of their letter.
He would also suggest that, if Sir E. Grey sees no objection, “ the
Foreign Jurisdiction (Admiralty) Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. 1910,” be extended
to Bahrein, and 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. be empowered to perform the
functions of a Notary Public. Sir E. Grey will be able to judge whether
this power will be best conferred on the Agent by the Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council.
or by separate notification.
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
(Sd.) R. Ritchie.
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
S. 85.