'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎70] (89/204)

7°
258. On the 15th October 1887, 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. telegraphed that
Sheikh Jasim had laid up all British and
Artie e 296 of demi-official, Bahrein claims for outrages and piracies
at Katar Coast, that his property under detention had been released, and
that piracies were stopped so far as Jasim's jurisdiction went and that British
relations were placed on former friendly footing. Ihe Government of India
expressed their satisfaction at this happy result.
259. The proceedings of 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. in exacting the compensa
tion from Sheikh lasim in October 1887
External A., September 1888, Nos 38*68. reached the ears of the Porte, with the
result that a note of protest was sent to the British Ambassador.
Her Majesty's Government on 17th April 1888 invited Sir W. White's
attention to the views expressed by them in 1883, namely, that Her Majesty's
g ^ Government are not prepared to waive the
No. 8^ of ditto, right nohich they have exercised at inter
vals during a long period of years oj dealing directly 'with the Arab Chiefs
of the Katar coast when necessary in order to preserve the peace of the seas
or to obtain for outrages on British subjects, or on persons entitled to British
Protection. The despatch added :—
Her Majesty's Government continue to hold that view and they are
eopaWy unable to admit any claim of the Porte to jurisdiction over the Chief
of Bahrein, whom, as they have once intimated, they regard as an independent
ruler and with whom they are on treaty relations."
259A. While the Ottoman Government showed themselves so sensitive
_ 1. a a 1. 000 xt o about British interference in Bahrein affairs,
Extract A., August 1888. Nos. 447-482. i i • i • i <•
there was no doubt in the minds of our
officers in the Gulf that the main object of the movements of Turkish troops to
Katif and Katar about this time, ostensibly for the purpose of suppressing pira
cies (see paras, 126-127 of Katar Precis), was to obtain a footing in Bahrein.
The Persians were also taking measures to assert their sovereignty over Bahrein
at this time {vide Chapter XXVII port). The Resident in the Gulf therefore is
ihid No 453 despatched two vessels of war to Bahrein
with orders to prevent any hostile attempt
to land by the Turks, Arabs or Persians,
The Grand Vizir was also requested by Sir A. Sandiron, under orders from
Extract a,, vSeptember 1888, Nos. 38-68. Sir W. White, that the Turkish authorities
^ No - 42 ^ should he receive strict orders to abstain
from every kind of interference at Bahrein and was also informed that the
British man of war which was then there had orders to prevent any landing of
Arabs> Persians or Turks. His Highness replied that there was no intention
whatever of sending Turkish troops to the island, and seemed indisposed, for the
moment at least, to urge the Porte's pretended claim of soveriegnty. If was,
however, apprehended that the Minister for Foreign affairs was likely to show a
very different disposition in this matter, more especially in regard to the
question of sovereignty. In fact from what we shall read hereafter, it will be
seen that the Porte has never abandoned its claim.