File 3939/1926 Pt 6 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties. Persian Gulf Section.' [‎621r] (677/818)

PERSIAN GULF— Bahrein.
15
blatters to a climax. Tlie 'A1 bin Ali tribe of Bahrein removed in a
body to Qatar, where their leader, Sultan bin Salama, promptly entered
into relations with Shaikh Jasim bin Thani. The latter, after osten-
silily endeavouring to effect a reconciliation between the Bahrein Chief
and the seceding tribe, resolved to settle the A1 bin Ali at, Zobara This
proposa! was supported by the authorities of Hasa, who at once despatch
ed a Mu dir and a gun-boat to the scene and caused the Ottoman flag to
be hooted there. In spite of the presence of two British men-of-war,
H.M.S. Sphinx and II.H.S. Figcon, an invasion of Bahrein was seri
ously threatened, and a large number of boats was collected by Shaikh
Jasim for the purpose. Eventually the British vessels opened Are on the
Arab fleet, disabling 40 boats. Shaikh Jasim then offered full submis
sion; the Mudir retired to Hasa; and 120 more boats were surrendered
and removed to Bahrein, two-thirds of them being substquently burnt
and one-third restored to their owners on payment of an indemnity. The
majority of the A1 bin Ali returned to Bahrein, though their Shaikh' ac
companied Shaikh Jasim to Bidaa. Zobara was completely evacuated.
After the accession of Shaikh Esa, the Turkish authorities on several
occasions evinced a disposition to interfere in the affairs of Bahrein; but
the British Government invariably asserted the Chief’s independence from
Turkish control.
In 1880 Shaikh Esa signed an Agreement (No. Nil), undertaking to
abstain from entering into negotiations or making treaties with any^
foreign power without the consent of the British Government.
In 1892 Shaikh Esa signed an Agreement (No. XIII), promising to
enter into no agreement or correspondence with any other power than the
British; to disallow the residence within his territory of the agent of any
other power; and neither to cede, sell, mortgage nor otherwise give for
occupation any part of his territory save to the British Government.
In 1893 the Porte objected to British officials taking up the cases of
Bahrein subjects suffering from the piracies of the Beni Hajir. They,
.were informed in reply that Bahrein w T as under British protection.
Later in the same year a claim was put forward by the Porte to treat'
the people of Bahrein as Turkish subjects within Ottoman territories.
The British Government, however, maintained its right to extend British
protection to the subjects of the Shaikh whenever occasion might demand..
In 1898 Sheikh Esa signed an Agreement (No. XIV) absolutely pro
hibiting the importation and exportation of arms into and from his ter
ritory.
In 1900 a Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , subordinate to the Political Itesideht ifl
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , was established at Bahrein.
- In December 1900 a cousin of the Chief of Bahrein name3 Salm&i
biar Diaijrj^ie«en^ftephew and 23 followers, were attaqked on the .UtKaha-