'File No. II/9 Foreign Dept Memoranda of Information re. affairs in Persian Gulf, Maskat & Arabian Shore of the Persian Gulf. Nov '07 - Dec '08.' [‎15r] (31/132)

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PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
205. On the 14th November, the Gov-
bahrein. ernment of India ad-
Judiciai powers to be dressed the Secretary of
caf Agent by the Politl " State on the subject of
the judicial powers
exercised by the British Agent in Bahrein.
They stated that the Agent had the powers
of a Magistrate of the 1st class as described
in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, in
respect of offences committed by Native
Indian subjects of His Majesty in the
island of Bahrein and on the southern shores of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and that he extended his
good offices to European foreigners in any
disputes between them and the Chief of
Bahrein or his subjects. He also was in
the habit of holding a court, composed of
himself and a representative of the Chief, for
the trial of cases in which the accused was a
Bahrein subject or a foreigner who preferred
not to invoke British good offices, and the
other party was a British or foreign subject
who did so. Pinally, he controlled a local
court of arbitration for the adjustment of civil
disputes between British subjects and proteges
on the one hand, and Bahrein subjects or
persons of any other nationality on the other
hand. This court had been in existence for
over 50 years. He also, on occasions, issued
bills of health, signed marine protests, and
legalised signatures on behalf of British
Indian subjects. Strictly speaking, however,
he had no legal authority for undertaking
these latter duties.
With a view to define and regularise the
powers exercised over British subjects by the
Agent, 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 had put forward the suggestion that
he should be appointed to be a Justice of the
Peace and endowed with the powers of a
District Judge in direct subordination to the
High Court of Bombay. The Government of
India concurred in this recommendation, but
with reference to clause 2 of the Indian Poreign
Jurisdiction Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , 1902, they
understood that it would first be necessary for
Bahrein to be declared by His Majesty in
Council to be a territory in which jurisdiction
was exercised by, or on behalf of, His Majesty
through the Governor-General in Council.
They accordingly requested that, if His
Majesty’s Government saw no objection, the
necessary Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. might be passed
providing for the exercise of jurisdiction in
Bahrein.
But, further, in view of the increase
of foreign shipping and foreign interest