'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎8] (27/204)

8
he could pursue his own alms of self-aggrandizement and oppression of
British Indian and other traders in the islands of Bahrein, and pursue his forays
against the Wahabi ports. In these attempts he was more than once checked
by the 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. towards the close of 1859. About this time he des
patched a messenger to Baghdad to make an offer of his allegiance to the Porte.
On account of the absence of the Governor General at Baghdad at the time,
there was some delay in accepting this offer, until the arrival of Mustafa Noun
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who forthwith despatched Mahomed Beg to ascertain the propriety of
acceding at once to the request of the Chief of Bahrein, and if satisfied on that
point to hoist Turkish flae. Meanwhile the Chief had applied to the Prince
Governor of Pars for the Shah's protection. This application met with immediate
^response and Mirza Mehdin a great anglophobe, was deputed to Bahrein to declare
the Persian sovereignty over the islands. The Persian flag was hoisted, when
the Turkish Agent Mahomed Beg arrived. The Persian flag was then hauled
down and in its place was hoisted the Turkish flag. The Persian A^ent,
however, refused to leave the place and insisted on exercising the Persian control
• Bombay Political Department, Volume io(5-A over the islands. (See* letter of Officiatin 0 "
r* T % 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. , Mr. Hyslop, No. 66,
dated 6tb June i860.) '
29. When Captain Felix Jones heard of these events, he addressed several
despatches to Sir Henry Rawlinson, in which he took somewhat alarminp' views
of the proceedings of the Persian Agent. Sir Henry Rawlinson replied to Captain
bXw — 4 1860 ln ^ lnterestlng des P atch » extracts of which are quoted
^ "My impression on reading these letters is that you have attached somewhat more
importance than they merit to Mirza Mehdi's proceedings at Bahrein. It 'seems to have
^ ^ r ll 0n ^ 0 ^ B l h - re A in - f0r SOme years past that three rivaI authorities,
the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Baghdad, the VVahahi Amir and the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Pars, should lay claim
to the allegiance of the island, and endeavour either by intimidation or intrigue to suner-
sede the independence of the Sheikh. _ Hostilities against Bahrein from any^quarter are to
be repelled by us by force of arms ; whilst the voluntary tender of the Sheikh's allegiance
to any other power, so long as it is not followed up by military oocupation, is to be ignored
as of no practical importance.
********
I have pointed out to the Shah's Ministers that the assertion of a right of sovereio-ntv
oyer Bahrein withont the means of realizing that right, or accepting ils obligations is s"m.
ply ridiculous and may place them in a very awkward and indignified position 1 he SheTkh
for instance, may at any moment tear down the Persian flag aSd expel the Persian A^ent'
from the island ; or Turkish influence being at some future time in the ascendant he may
K- ° f J™ sferr . ln g h ; S alle ? iance ''o™ the Persian to the Ottoman Government
Xr:bLlttt C prrl3 ;minbn e s. t0 ^ ^ SO ^ ^
I have further pointed out thai under no possible circumstances can the British Gov-
ernment he expected to concur in the proposed transjer of the sovereignty of Bahrein to
th Person Crown, since we have contracted engagements with the Lab Sheikhs of the
island as independent Chiefs, and since the maintenance of their indebendencp i* inri;*
pensable to the successful ■working of those pUns
which we have been at so much pains and expense to establish. " UuL J
*
s ^i n i s t ers have been so far moved by these arguments ^ • j
that no attempt shall be made to realize their claims to the s^ere Ltv of pr0m i Sed
military occupation of the island and further that orders shall be sent^co SMm y - a
from any discussions with you on the subject of your relations with the Chief np H abstain
suit of a reference to Eng.and and the firther consider^oTtt'^n^Stlon 2 ^
30. Captain Lewis Pelly, also wrote to Captain Toneq nn t
s tati n g that the Sheikh of Bahrein had recently applied to the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925).
of Fats for assistance in arms and ammunition and troops, but that the Shah's
Government had given h .m explicit assurances that ni further steps would
be taken in regard to the relations between Persia and Bahrein until tht Sh K
was informed by Her Majesty's Government whether they recognized his su7 P r!; ^
over Bahrein and if they did, whether it would be confoLablf to their pol c^h^
Persia should assert its authonty. Captain Pelly therefore deprecated resistance
of any kind to any attempt on the part of Persia to occupy Bahrein reS ' StanCe