File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎176r] (356/616)

From,
His Highness SHAIKH ESSA BIN A LI ALKHALIFA. k. c. i. e., c. s. i.,
To, "
His Excellency, the Right Hon’ble RUFUS DANIEL ISAACS, Earl
of Reading, p c., g. c. b., g. m. s. i., g. m. i. e., g, c. v. o., k. c. v. o.,
Viceroy and Governor General of India..
Your Excellency,
1. I am the Ruling Chief of Bahrein in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and its
dependencies having been installed on the throne, in the Hijri Year 1286.
by the will and with the approbation of the Chiefs of all the tribes, constituting
the people of Bahrein.
2 . From the earliest times, ever since the conquest of Bahrein by
the Arabs from the Persian Government in the Hijri year 1197 when the first
Shaikh Ahmed bin Mahomed was installed, the Rulers of Bahrein, have
enjoyed and exercised full independent powers and have had absolute and
complete authority and control over the internal affairs of the State without
any right of interference therein by the British Government, as provided in
the Treaty engagements entered into between the Shaiks of Bahrein and the
British Government.
3 . The matters covered by the treaties relate principally to Slave
trade and trafic in arms: the maritime interests of the British Government;
relations or negotiations with, and cession of territory to a foreign power; and
the treatment of British subjects. It is only in the event of a breach or
non-observance by the Rulers of Bahrein of their obligations in relation to
these matters that any interference of the British Government in the
internal affairs of the State could be called for or justified.
4. My administration of my State during its whole course of 56 years has
been peaceful and popular, and in consonance with the genuine wishes, and
sentiments of my subjects as their emphatic verdict has testified; and there have
been no complaint of any mal-administration or misrule by any respectable
citzen or responsible section of the populace or any breach of treaty engageme
nts with the British Government.