"ملخص عن الخليج العربي. (الجزءان I و II)" [و‎‎٣] (١٢٠/٥)

I
CHAPTER I.
British interests in the Persian Gulf and on the Arabian littoral.
Turkish expansion in the Persian Gulf. Extent of Arabian littoral.
The roi thern shores and territorial waters of the Persian Gnlf are included
Dejure position in the Persian Gulf. in the dominions of Persia ; its w estern
Secret k., November 1899, Nog. lo-ii. southern coasts are partially owned
and partially claimed by Turkey, or are in the occupation of Arab tribes who
prosper under the veiled protectorate of Great Britain. The islands in the
Persian Gulf are owned either by Persia or by Arab Chiefs. Bahrain, the most
important, is under British protection. Next in note is Kishm which is owned
by Persia, but Great Britain possesses an enclave at Basidu by virtue of grant
from the Imam of Maskat, to whom the island originally belonged.
.At Jask a reserve of British territory exists under an agreement concluded
in 1887 between the British and Persian Governments; here and at Charbar
small detachments of Indian troops are stationed for the protection of British
telegraph officials. On the southern and western coast is the still independent
Sultanate of Oman.
The dejucto position upon the waters and on the shores of the Persian
Gulf reflects a more positive British
Be facto position in the Persian Gu . predominance than is perhaps indicated
by the preceding paragraph. Order has been established and enforced by
British Agency on land and on water up and down the whole coast which has
restored, with the industries of peace, prosperity and trade of which
i ritain has so far succeeded in preserving a liberal share, but in which the
enterprise of all nations is free to take a part. This position is solely the result
of a century of British effort. Many British lives and millions of money have
been spent in the suppression of piracy and the slave trade in the Persian
Gulf, in the pacification, surveying, lighting and buoying of its intricate and
troublous waters, in laying cables, in fostering and increasing trade which, if
beneficial to Britain and India, has been so also to the world at large and
especially to Persia, Arabia and Turkey.
In .return for sacrifices of life and treasure and benefits conferred. Great
Britain has claimed no exclusive privileges or direct compensation, but she has
declared publiclv* that no hostile roli-
• Pages 87 nnd 88 .md 89 G. of Persian Assurances. influpnce ^ be intro(hlced in any
form by either of the territorial Powers ceding to a third, land for the establish
ment of a naval base or other pied a terre. Such a proceeding Britain has
proclaimed would be a wanton rupture of the status quo which she would put
forth her whole strength to prevent.
Nor are there wanting other factors which tend to increase an already
predominant British influence. ^
At the north-west extremity of the Gulf, the still independent Shaikh of
Kuwait has bound himself and his successors not to receive the representative
of any other Power than Great Britain and not to alienate any portion of his
territory to the Government or subjects of any other Power, a proceeding which
was dictated by the increasing encroachment of Turkish authority and by the
incipient intrigues of other Powers. Outside the entrance to the Persian Gulf,
but included within the same political sphere, the Arab Stale of Mask at has
for years been controlled by British influence, its trade is in Anglo-Indian
hands and its ruler, though supported by the joint declaration of Great
Britain and France of 1862, has not merely been subsidised for years by the
Government of India, but in 1891 entered into an agreement with us, not to
alienate any portion of his dominions to any other Power.
Such, briefly summarised, is the position that has been won by
Great Britain in 'the Persian Gulf. In its vindication we have more than
once been called upon to enter into military occupation of ports or islands ia