'File No. II/12 Foreign Dept Memoranda of Information re: affairs in Persia and Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf. Jan '09 --' [‎87v] (174/178)

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10. {Vide paragraph 16 of the Memo-
Persian claim to ratidum for June
sovereignty over 1909.) On the 13 th
a rein ’ May, Sir G. Barclay
addressed a note to the Persian Government
informing them that His Majesty’s Govern
ment had approved his action in accepting
the amended note sent him by the Persian
Government in January last {vide paragraph
16 of the Memorandum for March 1909), but
that they maintained, as regards the status of
Bahrainis in Persia, the attitude explained
in Mr. Marling’s note, dated the 30th March
1908, viz., that the island of Bahrain and its
inhabitants were considered to be under British
protection. Sir G. Barclay added that His
Majesty’s Government would be guided
entirely by their own views of the position
should any action of the Persian authorities
make representations necessary.
In forwarding a copy of this note to Sir
E. Grey on the 4th June, Sir G. Barclay
explained that, as the wording of the commu
nication had been left to his discretion, he
bad omitted the words “ His Majesty’s Govern
ment cannot consider this arrangement as
final ’ {vide paragr jph 17 of the Memorandum
for April 191)9), as he thought that these words
might provoke a reply and that the moment
was inopportune for pressing the Bahrein
question to an issue.
His Majesty’s Government approved the
terms of Sir G. Barclay’s note to the Persian
Government.
11. {Vide paragraph 19 of the Memo-
Kejd affairs. randum for June 1909.)
JMejd continues in a
state of turmoil owing to the quarrels of Ibn
Saud and Ibn Sebhan, the guardian of Ibn
Bashid, ^ rival claimants to the Emirlik of
the Nejd. After the counter raids of
Pebruary last {vide paragraph 18 of the
Memorandum for April 1909), Ibn Saud
returned to Biadh with a slight wound in
his leg and caused rumours to be circulated
among the tribes that he had subsequently
died. Zamil-ibn-Sebhan, having heard this
neAvs, concluded that there was no necessity
for keeping any further a large force under
arms, and disbanded a great part of his men.
He then camped at the western frontier of
Kassim, encouraging his rival to emerge from
concealment at the head of a large force
chiefly of the M/uteir tribe and Eassim people.
Ihese made a raid against the Shammar and
Harb tribes in Jebel Tai from which Ibn
Saud returned with an enormous booty. On
his way back, however, to Kassim he was
confronted by Ibn Sebhan and his allies, and
a fierce engagement ensued with considerable
loss on both sides, while much of the booty was
re-taken.