'Report and Proceedings of a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the Baghdad Railway, Southern Persia, and the Persian Gulf' [‎14r] (32/332)

Evidence of Sir R. T. Ritchie.
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Sir C. Hardinge : Yes, we did, to some people ; but not to everybody.
Sir E. Grey : Was Bahrein included ?
Sir C. Hardinge : No.
Sir R. Ritchie : As an afterthought, it was decided not to communicate the
statement to Germany.
Sir E. Grky : That notification having been made some time ago, it is a mere
question of making it altogether public ; but that does not help us with Bahrein.
We should have to consider on what we should base our rights, supposing we do pass
an Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. exercising jurisdiction over the foreigners.
50. Mr. Morley : What would be the precise gain ? I never understood from the
Government of India that they showed what the precise gain would be. What do you
say, Sir Richmond ?
Sir R. Ritchie : I think it would obviously be of great advantage. At present
in every step we take at Bahrein we are haunted by the dread: What will
Turkey sayV what will Persia say ? and Germany ? what will Mr. Wonckhaus say ?
and what will the pearl-dealers say ? They all have the right of direct access to the
Sheikh to get him to settle their difficulties, and our Political Officer does not always
necessarily know what passes between the Sheikh and these foreigners. He has to
find out before he can give effective advice to the Sheikh—that is, effective in the sense
of British interests.
Mr. Lloyd-George : This question of Bahrein and the other questions are part of
the much bigger question of the control over the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. as a whole.
Mr. Morley : Yes, but you cannot consider the Gulf as a whole unless you have
examined your control over the details.
Mr. Lloyd-George : I put it the other way as well ; I think that is equally true.
Details are, after all, details ; the other is the real principle.
Mr. Morley : What is the principle ?
Mr. Lloyd-George : Whether it is worth our while to establish some sort of
control over the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in order to maintain the commercial supremacy, to begin
with, which we have got there—and the political supremacy, of course.
Mr. Morley : Surely we cannot discuss that scientifically until we know what
control over the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. involves? Take Bahrein, for example. It is quite true,
as Sir Richmond says, that our Consul would be a more effective man if we issued our
Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. ; but what occurs to me is: What would Mr. Wonckhaus and the
Persian and the Turk, and perhaps the German (who is a person we have got to think
of), say ? I do not see, I submit, how we can talk at large about our control over the
Gulf till we have looked a little into details. It is extremely tedious, but I think it is
inevitable.
Mr Lloyd-George : I should say it is not at all tedious. I think it is very
interesting.
Mr. Morley : Of course it is for the Sub-Committee to say whether the plan I
suggest of going round these tiresome places is a good plan.
Mr. Lloyd-George : I think you have got to do so. I think you have mistaken
my point. It was rather in reference to the question which you put as to what we
gain. That is the only reason why I put it. What we gain in Bahrein itself by
establishing a Protectorate, I think, has reference rather to the question of our policy in
the Gulf as a whole.
Mr. Morley : True; but I am keeping my eye on the particular point of Bahrein.
Here is the Government of India making a proposal; what is the precise gain that the
Government of India hope to get ? That is my point now. What you say is, of course,
the right way of looking at it, in time.
Mr. Lloyd-George: That is so. I was not protesting against examining these
things in detail.