File 4535/1928 Pt 8 ‘ – PERSIAN GULF – QUESTION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTORATES OVER KOWEIT, BAHREIN, MUSCAT, TRUCIAL COAST.’ [‎77v] (148/194)

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those efforts succeed, of consolidating that influence on the Arab littoral, and’
the possibility that the removal of the headquarters of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
from Bush ire may have to be considered, all combine to invest Bahrein with
an importance veiy substantially greater than in 1908 from the standpoint
of His Majesty’s Government.
43. On the assumption, then, that Imperial considerations, our obligations
to the Sheikh apart, make it desirable for His Majesty’s Government to-
maintain and consolidate their position in Bahrein, the question arises of
how this is to be achieved. The matter is one which calls for careful
handling. On the one hand, Persia has appealed to the League, on the
Council of which she is now represented, and there is a possibility that she
may endeavour to make a compromise on Bahrein a condition precedent
to agreement with His Majesty’s Government on other Gulf questions. On
the other hand, it appears that a compromise, even on the basis of the
maintenance of the status quo, would have a definitely unsettling effect on the
Sheikhs, who are suspicious that His Majesty’s Government may use them
as pawns to secure concessions from Persia of value to Great Britain only ;
that a decision which will definitely dispose internationally of the Persian
claim is therefore desirable : and that, while the deposed Sheikh Isa remains
sensitive regarding the maintenance of internal independence, the de facto
ruler, his heir, and his brother, are anxious, in the face of Persian claims, to
admit to the full the protection of Great Britain. It may perhaps be assumed
that if the Persian claim could be disposed of before His Majesty’s
Government had finally consolidated their position, much stronger
opposition to such consolidation might be expected from the ruling family,
and this appears to make it desirable to seize the present opportunity to^
establish the British position once for all.
44. The simplest method of at once asserting internationally the British
view of the status of Bahrein and establishing the position in the islands
of His Majesty’s Government vis-d-vis the Sheikh, would probably on the
whole be the conclusion of a formal treaty of protection, a course under
consideration in India (see para. 34 above) at the time of the reassertion of
the Persian claim last year. Had Persia been prepared to abandon her claim
in deference to His Majesty’s Government, the Treaty with Bahrein could
have been concluded simultaneously with its abandonment. But as she is
undoubtedly not prepared to compromise, such a treaty could only be
concluded in the face of Persian protests to the League and elsewhere,
and the wider considerations of international policy involved in its
conclusion would call for close examination before a decision is taken
regarding it.
An alternative method of solution might be arbitration, to which various
objections are obvious.
F.—Points referred to in connection with Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Sub-Committee.
45. The points in connection with Bahrein which have been specifically
mentioned in connection with the deliberations of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Sub-
Committee are:—
(a) Persian claims to suzerainty—degree of control to be exercised by
His Majesty’s Government (P.G. (3, 2 (a) (12)).
(b) Steps necessary on the -North Arabian coast in connection with the
protection of the pearl-fisheries at Bahrein (P.G. G, 2 (c) (3)).
(c) Question of extent to which His Majesty’s Government should
increase or decrease interest taken and control exercised by them
in Bahrein (P.G. 6, 2 (c) (5) ).
(d) Whether the existing coaling stations at Kishmand Henjam can
without disadvantage be moved to Bahrein (P.G. 1st Minutes:
Conclusions).
Tel. from Viceroy to S. of S
for 1., No. 1420 S, July 23
1928, P.G. 9.
G.—Views expressed by Government of India.
46. The Government of India have expressed the view that the
maintenance of the independence of Bahrein, as of Muscat, Koweit, and the
Trucial Chiefs, is necessary. “ Our veiled protectorate over them suffices
against European encroachments. So long as we do not alienate Arab
opinion by undue Westernisation ... it suffices also against encroachments
by 7 the Wahabi State. At need it can be more explicitly asserted.”
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
8th October 1928.
J. G. L.