File 522/1922 Pt 3 'Bahrein: Persian claim to sovereignty' [‎480v] (968/1291)

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It also became apparent that the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , lying as it does het,„„ T
India, was of first-class importance strategically in connection win, n eeD I ' ac l ai >I
the East, and that, since Persia could not be depended upon a I a en 6 f routet »
route, the Arab coast was of vital importance to us. P C0Untr y on that
!5 Consequently, the southern coast, with the sheikhs of which in hv™ j
we had been obliged to make treaties for the safety of the seas n™A g da - vs
important item in the route for aeroplanes. ‘ ’ became the
We had been content in the past to make general treaties hm it k„.i l
ohject to avoid occupation of any part of the cofst, since with regard to otr^rn
Our stationing them on the continent, either of Persia or Arabia „ ^ troo PS,
sooner or later to involve us in the politics of those countries ” ’ d not fai1
16 . But again our circumstances have, changed. To-day we are inv„i„„,! ■
politics of those countries. ' e lnvolv ed m the
this policy PaSt ° Ur P ° llCy haS been t0 avoid protectorates. Can we continue to follow
Two lines of action lie open to us to meet the new situation
(l) To continue as we are, to await a period of war, if it comes, when we can
as in the last war, seize such vantage points as we may desire
(n.) To prepare the ground beforehand and acquire definite (protectorate) or
(b) protection over the countries which we know we shall require.
tho II' i We al ^ e, have P omted out elsewhere, and as is apparent losing with
afford to Hn^ nt ° f lers , 1 f’ our s tr °ng position on the Persian^oast.’ We Cannot
anord to do the same on the southern coast.
estabhstdTa^^^ P0 fj, ti0 ? W L th Ibn Saud on the Hasa coast > we hav r already
established that we can use the Arab air route with a three-engined machine or in
~itl> a».v ™ohi« e . b, «*4T C Si:
hold on U the t sh^khs matterS aS th6y are n ° ' 0nger P ossible ^ we must have a str0I1 g er
aud n,'ntPPt rl fL" e mi,st , occu Py the , Massandan Peninsula in order to hold the Gull
and protect the egress of our oil and petrol.
which have" w r it ten ^ ^ oim T a ti°n upon which I have made the recommendations
for JvL w l 11 18 ^ t0 be remem bered that we may not always hold the mandate
tor Iraq. We may find our position in Iraq that which it is in Persia.
month nftfp the necessary is it for us to be established at Bahrein and the
mouth of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at Khassab ?
bpttP^nS h /?f a V X ^ llent Protected harbour to be made at a small cost, has a
flppt* to^ te i haD he Massan dan Peninsula, and should be the headquarters of our
for the navy to dedde 6 ^ 6 ^ ime ^Tiat should be the headquarters in war time it is
thpvJ f ave Unseat, with its possessions of Gwadur, &c., since
they are not definitely situated in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
nAdhir. U o 8t at m S, i n fact i’ as ^obnitely a protectorate of ours as is Bahrein, though
Hone a T 0 * 1 .y acknowledged, and the question of Muscat has certain complica
tions, such as foreign treaties.
the air j.Quf* 0WeVer ’ ^^cctcd with the same political issues of defence, of India and
• iuH h ®, Su i ai ? ° nl y continues ruling because he has our support, and I think there
A e f ^ at P 0 btical events will force us to admit officiallv the protectorate of
tbe coast of Oman, which in practice exists to-day.
I have, &c.
L. HAWORTH, Lieutenant-Colonel.