ملف ١٩٢٢/٥٢٢، جزء ٧ "البحرين: المطالبة الفارسية بالسيادة عليها؛ مفاوضات المعاهدة الفارسية ١٩٢٩-١٩٣٠" [و‎‎٤‎٦‎٦] (١١٢٦/٩٣٦)

I
J r
Minute Paper.
political Department.
3818a 5000 8/29
Please see previous submission on P. 6822/29
below, and the extracts from the correspondence with
Tehran flagged "G". The draft instructions to Tehran
on the Persian counter-draft regarding Bahrein are
largely based on our letters on P. 6822 and P. 6989,
and, so far as they go, are, I think, unobjectionable
from our point of view.
The question raised in paragraphs 2 and 3 of
Mr. Baxter T s demi-official letter of the 3rd December
is one of some difficulty. The Department is inclined
to the view, first that any provision about most
favoured-nation treatment for goods would mors
properly find a place in the Commercial Treaty with
Persia than in the present General Treaty, and
secondly, that to make special treaty provision to
cover the case of Bahrein while saying nothing about
Muscat, Koweit and the Trucial Sheikhdoms is likely to
attract Persian attention to the position, and to cause
trouble at a later stage. The balance of trade between
Bahrein and Persia is, on the other hand, definitely in
favour of Persia, md the possibility that here (as
possibly elsewhere on the Arab coast) Persia may
endeavour to cause trouble cannot be overlooked. I
suggest, in the circumstances, that we might consider
this point further, possibly in consultation with the
Board of Trade, before definitely reaching a decision
(it will be possible to send amending telegraphic
instructions to Sir Robert Clive), and that for the
moment, as the Foreign Office are anxious to get off
the present despatch by Thursday’s air mail, we should
content ourselves with concurring in its terms. I
submit/