File 522/1922 Pt 2 'Bahrein: Passport arrangements for travellers between Bahrein and Persia; Position of Bahreinis in Persia' [90v] (185/1330)
The record is made up of 1 volume (661 folios). It was created in 29 Jan 1923-7 Nov 1932. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
5 ^T 0 dispute involving the question of jurisdiction over foreigners
appears to have arisen in Bahrein until 1904. In 1904-5 two incidents
affecting foreign subjects toot place in the Islands. In the lir&t of these, a
German subject—an employee of Messrs. Wonckhaus—became involved in a
brawl, in the course of which he suffered personal injuries. Failing, as he
thought, to secure adequate redress through 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.
, to whom
his first’complaint was addressed, Mr. Wonckhaus made representations to
the German Consul at Basra, who addressed the Sheikh direct on the
subject. His Excellency, in reply, acknowledged the letter and added,
“I have now to inform you that this matter is before the British Government,
and I cannot say anything on the subject.” The Foreign Office at a later
stao-e instructed the Charge d’Affaires at Berlin that, should representations
be "made to him in the matter by the German Government, he should state
that it had been brought to the notice of His Majesty’s Government, and that
a British ship would be sent to Bahrein in order that an inquiry might be
instituted. The German Government do not appear to have taken any
action. The German Consul at Basra subsequently thanked the Political
Resident “for Vour efficient help to the German firm, which, I trust, settles
the case.”
Lr. from Pol. Res. to
G. of I., No. 1863,
d. 31 July 1909.
G. In the second case (November 1904), an accidental quarrel having
arisen between a retainer of the Sheikh’s nephew and a Persian, attacks
were made upon Persian subjects in Bahrein. Apprehensive that the Sheikh
would endeavour to deal with the case in the local Courts, they telegraphed
for support to the Shah, and conversations took place between His Majesty’s
Minister and the Mushir-ud-Dowleh, as the result of which the latter
telegraphed to the Persian community urging them to keep calm, as “ I
have had a long talk with the British Minister . . . and I am sure he will
take early steps to get the affairs settled and the culprit punished.” The
Sheikh, however, adopted an uncompromising attitude on the question of
jurisdiction, maintaining that he would not admit any interference “ in cases
between Arabs and Persians, who were all Mohammedans,” and that they
must go before the local Shara Courts, which, composed as they were of
Sunnis, were unlikely to do justice to the Shiah Persians. Argument
proving unavailing, an ultimatum was presented to ilis Excellency, fie
accepted the demands of His Majesty’s Government, and though no specific
reference to the point was made in the ultimatum, the jurisdiction of the
fkffitical Agent appears thenceforth to have been definitely established, as a
a matter of practice, in respect of British and foreign subjects in Bahrein.
7. Correspondence took place between 1908 and 1911 in regard to the
preparation of an
Order in Council
A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council.
to confer jurisdiction over British
subjects and foreigners in the Islands on 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.
at Bahrein.
It was decided that it was desirable to obtain a formal request from the
Sheikh that he should be relieved of jurisdiction over foreigners. After
discussion 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.
, His Excellency addressed the latter on
10th July 1909, in the following terms :—“ After compliments. It is not
hidden from you that I have had considerable trouble in many cases (that
arose) in my territory in which foreigners were involved. For this reason
I wish that I may not be held responsible in these cases, and 1 would
be grateful to British Government if they remove this trouble and
responsibility from me. I mean that it (the British Government) should
exeicise authority in ail cases in which the foreigners only are concerned,
but not in other cases ; and in cases that occur between foreigners and my
cts, it is necessary that you and I should settle them jointly.”
(S. lhe
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.
remarked, with reference to the reservation
contained in the concluding sentence of the Sheikh’s letter, “As its effect is
simply that such cases will be disposed of by the joint Court, and gives
foreigners the same treatment that British subjects now receive, there seems
no need for exception to be taken to it.”
Tbe Sheikh subsequently represented that his letter of 10th July
190J, giving’ jurisdiction over foreigners to the British Government, was
intended only to cover subjects of recognised Powers and not the
dependents oj. petty Arab potentates in Gulf, with some of whom he claims
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About this item
- Content
Correspondence, minutes, draft papers, and memoranda relating to passport arrangements for Bahrainis in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The correspondence is mostly copies of that between officials in numerous diplomatic and administrative posts in parts of Mesopotamia, Persia, and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , and the Governments of Bahrain and Persia. This correspondence was exchanged as enclosures within the interdepartmental correspondence between the 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. , Colonial Office, Foreign Office, and Government of India, Foreign and Political Department.
The papers deal with several matters, including:
- Disagreement between the Persian, British, and Bahrain Governments over the status of Bahrain and the required travel documentation for Bahrainis travelling to and from Persia, and Persians travelling to and from Bahrain
- Several individual cases of Bahrainis being denied the right to travel by the Persian authorities in Basra and Mohammerah, and the handling of the affair by the British
- Travel facilities in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. more generally
- The proposal that the Governments of Muscat, Kuwait, and Bahrain start issuing their own passports.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (661 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in chronological order from the back to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 663; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-660; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 522/1922 Pt 2 'Bahrein: Passport arrangements for travellers between Bahrein and Persia; Position of Bahreinis in Persia' [90v] (185/1330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1040, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075151633.0x0000ba> [accessed 17 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/1040
- Title
- File 522/1922 Pt 2 'Bahrein: Passport arrangements for travellers between Bahrein and Persia; Position of Bahreinis in Persia'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:13v, 15r:61v, 63r:94v, 96r:105v, 109r:130v, 137r:149v, 156r:161v, 167r:180v, 184r:208v, 212r:220v, 225r:230v, 233r:239v, 243r:254v, 257r:272v, 275r:285v, 288r:312v, 314r:359v, 361r:363v, 365r:366v, 368r:369v, 371r:371v, 375r:381v, 383r:385v, 391r:391v, 394r:408v, 410r:418v, 421r:592v, 595r:603v, 606r:615v, 617r:662v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence