PZ 4718/1934 ‘Historical Memorandum on Bahrein.’ [‎18v] (36/48)

Teh. Desp.
No. 95 of
26.4.1910.
P. 3539/10.
P.Gf. 13: 67,
§24.
reaffirming that His Majesty’s
Wdsu^der British
Government make representations necessary.
128 Early in 1910 the Persian Government assimilated
the formalities to be fulfilled in the case of persons visiting
Bahrein to those prescribed m the case of t ™ vel *® ra
Persian ports, a measure which, as pointed out bj tno
Foreign Office at the time, constituted a fresh attempt to
assert Persian sovereignty over the island, but it was agree*
that in view of the undesirability of raising the general
question, no protest should be made to them. In J uiy ot
the same year it was reported that internal Persian coastal
passes issued to persons proceeding to Bahrein from I ersian
ports were vise by a Persian merchant residing m Bahrein.
In 1912 the individual in question was forbidden to take
any action in regard to the endorsement of passes held by
Persian subjects for travelling in Bahrein. The endorse
ments in question were, however, henceforth granted by the
Political Resident—a practice, as pointed out by the Political
Resident nine years later, “ of itself open to objection, as it
might be construed into a tacit admission that the Persian
passport authorities are justified in giving passes for another
Persian r»ort to persons Sfoino- to Bahrein.
Withdrawal of Turkish Claim to Bahrein in Anglo-Turkish
Convention of 29th July 1913.
129. On 29th July 1913 His Majesty’s Government
signed a convention (which still awaited ratification on the
outbreak of the War of 1914-18) with the Ottoman Govern
ment. under which that Government renounced all their
claims to the islands of Bahrein, the independence of which
they recognised. His Majesty’s Government on their part
declared that they had no intention of annexing the islands
and undertook not to allow the Sheikh of Bahrein to disturb
the autonomy of the peninsula of El Katr or to annex it,
and to ensure that the Sheikh should not discriminate
against Ottoman subjects in the matter of dues levied upon
pearl fisheries. The Turkish Government on their side
accepted a reservation of the right of the population of
Bahrein to visit Zakhnuniyah Island for fishing, and
recognised the rights of subjects of the Sheikh to British
consular protection in Turkey. This arrangement, followed,
as it was, by the disappearance of Turkey from the Gulf
after tlm \\ ar of 1914-18, disposed of the Turkish claim
to Bahrein, wffiich had been reasserted on numerous occasions
and with great insistence since 1847.
viuumary, loyz-iyiq.
130. The Turkish claim was repeatedly raised during
tt- 6 • P a , rt P er i°d> but consistently opposed by
His Majesty s Government. It was finally abandoned in
'wt-r^^d) A Tg lo “ Turkls b Convention of July 1913.
p /i tkat Convention was never ratified, the abandonment
oi the lurkish claim was confirmed by Article 16 of the
Ireaty of Lausaune of 1923.
'T 11 '' j Va - S als0 frec l u ently pressed and was
Govemment. rePU m Str ° ng terms ^ His ^jesty's
P.G. 13,
§8, p. 62.
§10, p.6o,
**■*““• J-oxo-o*.
Exercise of Jurisdiction over Foreigners ly British
Agent in Bahrein.
aboveWml Iq ^ Convention of 1861 (paragraph 70
British plr SU f bs f ? qiie . nt ^legations by the Sheikhs, the
British Representative m Bahrein has for over 70 years