PZ 4718/1934 ‘Historical Memorandum on Bahrein.’ [‎12r] (23/48)

21
°u ? heikk Md ’ bin Khalifa and
Sheikli Md. bin Abdullah to establish themselves in
control of the islands.
,-i ] n VI . ew of the weight attached by the Persians to
the declarations made m the course of those discussions as
indicating the view held by Her Majesty’s Government on
the status of Bahrein, of the Persian allegations that over-
tures to Persia had been made by the ruling Sheikh, Ali bin
Khalifa, and by the ex-Sheikh, Md. bin Khalifa, and of the
misleading but categorical accusations made against the
Resident by the Persian Government, it seems desirable to
examine in some detail the correspondence which passed
and the sequence of events.
Punitive Expedition of August—September 1868.
79. In 1868, consequent on an attack on Qatar by the
Sheikh of Bahrein, the Government of India resolved to take
disciplinary action against Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa.
The Sheikh sent an agent to Bush ire to satisfy the Resident,
but the agent having no powers from his master, his mission
proved fruitless, and he returned to Bahrein in August 1868.
An armed expedition was thereupon sent against the Sheikh
in August-September of that year. Before it reached
Bahrein the Sheikh fled to the Arab mainland, and he was
thereafter regarded by the people of Bahrein and by Her
Majesty’s Government as having abdicated the Sheikhdom.
The expedition found it unnecessary to use any force, a full
submission being made on its arrival by Sheikh Ali bin
Khalifa, brother of Sheikh Mohamed, who had previously
been associated with Sheikh Mohamed to some extent in the
Sheikhship. An agreement was reached by the Political
Resident with Sheikh Ali, which disposed of the matters in
dispute, on 6th September 1868. The agreement was signed
by “ Ali bin Khalifah and the inhabitants and subjects of
Bahrein.” It declared inter alia that “ Md. bin Khalifah
having repeatedly committed acts of piracy and other
irregularities at sea, and having now, after his recent
piratical acts, fled from Bahrein, has forfeited ali claim to
his title as principal Sheikh and Chief of Bahrein.”
80. Subsequently to the conclusion of this agreement
the Resident, by way of punishment, destroyed the fort of
Muharraq by gunfire and burnt certain vessels of war
belonging to Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifah. His despatch,
which contains a detailed report on the course of events,
makes no reference to any flying of the Persian flag by
Mohamed bin Khalifah, and the bombardment of Muharraq
and the punitive destruction of the warships took place after
the submission of Bahrein, and so after Mohamed bin
Khalifah had fled from the islands.
Persian Protest, November 1868.
81. The facts appear to be as stated in the preceding
paragraph. It was some time before a full account of these
proceedings reached either India or Pondou. Meanwhile,
as will be seen from the correspondence, extracts of which
are quoted below, the action of the Government of India
drew a vigorous protest from the Persian Government, ihe
protest, after appealing to the treaties concluded between
England and Persia in 1809, in 1814, in 1822 funratified)
and in 1857, urged that the Resident, instead of respecting
the rights of Persia in the Gulf to the extent provided for
in those treaties, had, without any prior intimation to the
Persian authorities, attacked Bahrein, which island had been
and still was the property of Persia ; had bombarded and
destroyed the Governor’s fort and house and caiised
considerable damage ; had appointed the Sheikh s brother
2953
Bushire
Desp. 3 of
25.9.1868.
Aitch. XI,
No. xi,
236-7.
Pol. Res. to
Govt, of
Bombay,
No. 3,
25.9.1868.
Teh. Desp.
to G. of I.,
28.10.1868.
Teh. Desp.
149 of
17.11.1868.