PZ 4718/1934 ‘Historical Memorandum on Bahrein.’ [‎19r] (37/48)

exercised important judicial powers in the islands. The
Sheikh in L)09 formally requested His Majesty’s
Government to exercise jurisdiction over foreigners in
Bahrein other than the subjects of Arab potentates. An
Order m Council conferring such jurisdiction on the Political
Agent was made in 1913. It was supplemented by a further
Order m 1922. Since 1920 jurisdiction over all foreign
subjects has rested with the British authorities within the
limits of the Orders in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. .
132 ; The Sheikh, on 14th May 1914, undertook not to
entertain any overtures for an oil concession save after
consultation with 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. and with the approval
of His Majesty’s Government.
Undertakings secured from Ibn Saud, December 1915.
133. In 19lo His Majesty’s Government, in entering
into an Agreement with Ibn Saud, then ruler of Nejd,
secured an undertaking from him “ to refrain from all
aggression on, or interference with the territories of . . .
Bahrein. . . .”
Persian Claim reasserted, 1922-23.
134. In 1922 His Majesty’s Consul at Bunder Abbas
reported that the Persian passport officials at Lingah had
ruled that Bahreinis were Persian subjects and should be
given Persian passports. They seized two British certificates
of identity granted to Bahrein subjects, but on representa
tions being made by the Minister at Tehran instructions
were given by the Central Government that there was to be
no repetition of this incident. In 1922, also, the Persian
delegate at a Postal Conference held at Bushire stated that
while not for the moment pressing for the transfer to Persia
of the Bahrein post office, his action was without prejudice
to the Persian claim to Bahrein.
135. In 1923, consequent on a Press campaign and a
discussion in the Majliss on the desirability of giving
Bahrein the right to return a member to the Persian Parlia
ment, which was referred to a Commission for report, His
Majesty’s Government decided that it was desirable to
address a formal Note to the Persian Government in terms
similar to those employed in 1906 (paragraph 124 above).
Owino- to the difficult internal situation in Persia this
proposal was dropped, but in September 1923 the Persian
Government was informed that the island was now a Butish
protectorate, and that His Majesty’s Government did not
•contemplate any alteration of its status. The Persian
Minister for Foreign Affairs replied that the Government ol
which he was a member had no intention of laying claim to
Bahrein on behalf of Persia. But despite this statement the
Minister for Foreign Affairs again reverted to the question
in the following month.
PLis Majesty’s Government remove^ Sheikh Isa for
Misgovernment (1923).
m Consequent on the gross misgovernment of Sheikh
Isa, who had been ruler of Bahrein since 1869, the Sheikh
was deprived by His Majesty’s Government of his contiol of
affairs^n Bahrein on 26th May 1923, and was granted an
allowance, his son, Sheikh Hamad (vyhose right of s, '. c ' ces ®'° 1 1 l
had been ’recognised by His Majesty’s Government in WO )
being appointed to act for him as his fathers lu y
empowered agent.
Oil concession granted by bheikh, 1925.
137 In 1925 an oil concession was granted by t e
Sheikh of Bahrein to the Eastern and General Synicate a
British corporation, with the approval of His Majestj
Government.
Aitch., XI,
No. xvi,
239.
Aitch., XI,
No. ii,
206-8.
P.G. 13,
67, § 26.
P.G. 13.
67-8, §§ 27
9.
P.Gr. 13,
63-4,
§§ 11-14.