'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎91] (110/204)

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335. In April 1894
Secret E-, June 1894, Nos. 290-298.
at Basrah had
Lieutenant Beville (Consul at Basrah) reported to
Colonel Mockler, 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 the
Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , that the Turkish authori
ties at Basrah had treated a vessel belonging to a subject of the Sheikh of
Bahrein, as though subject to the same local rules as to the levy of port dues as a
Turkish vessel and had exacted fees accordingly from him. It was proposed
that the Turkish authorities should be asked to refund the fees exacted. Colonel
Mockler decided that no further action should be taken and that for the future
the British Consul at Basrah was advised to satisfy himself in the first instance
that the person claiming protection on the ground of being a Bahreinese subject
is really such and that for this purpose he should warn the Bahreinese to
provide themselves with a passport or letter of recommendation from their
Sheikh, bearing date immediately prior to their starting from Bahrein for Basrah.
336. A communication on the subject was made by the Consul at Basrah
to the 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. at Bushire
Secret e,, January 1895, Nos. 52-58. j n August 1904, and the, Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent
In Bahrein was instructed to remind the Sheikh of the necessity for his subjects
providing themselves with documents from him certifying them to be such
subjects in order to satisfy the'British Consul of their nationality should they
need to appeal to him. It was also pointed out that the same papers would be
available for production before the British Vice Consul at Mohammerah.
337. The question of the British right of Intervention on behalf of the
Bahreinese was raised again early In De
cember 1895, when a piracy was commit
ted against one of them on the Shat-ul-
Secret E., May 1896, Nos. 395-403, and Secret
£., January 1897, Nos. 5 0 74-
Arab. The facts briefly are these.
338. On the night of the 1st
Secret E., January 1897.
December, 1895 a Bhareinese subject was
a passenger In a Kowelt boat on the Shat-
ul-Arab. At a place about 10 miles below
the port of Basrah the boat was boarded by men who stated they were employees
of the Rigie Department and the crew and passengers were compelled to give up
all their valuables. The Bahreinese passanger was robbed of a large sum of
money. He subsequently appealed to our Consul at Basrah. 'J he Consul
addressed the Turkish Government on the subject, but received a reply that his
action in doing so was improper, as the Turkish Government did not recognize
the claim of British Consular authorities to intervene on behalf of the Bahreinese.
Our Consul at Basrah thereupon telegraphed to the Embassy at Constantinople
reporting this, and in consequence Sir Philip Currie addressed a note verhale
to Porte stating:—
" Her Majesty's Embassy have received a telegram from Her Majesty's Consul at
xt tc . tt » ** . q ^ m Basrah, stating that a subject of the Sheikh
No. 401, of Secret E., May 1896, Nos. 399-403. r o u • u tj j
or Bahrein, whose property had been plundered
by pirates while he was on board a sailing vessel in the Saht-ul-Arab had appealed to him
for assistance. Captain White accordingly addressed the Vali on the subject, but His
Excellency intimated that his action in so doing was improper, and that according to his
instructions the Turkish Government does not recognise the claim of British Consular
authorities Lo intervene on behalf of Bahreinese.
Her Majesty's Embassy have the honor to refer to their Note Verbale No. 84 of the
12th August 1895) and to numerous other written and verbal communications made
on this matter, and they would remind the Sublime Porte that, as the Chief of Bahrein is
under the protection of the Queen of England, it is quite inadmissible that the natives of
Bahrein should, when on Ottoman territory, be treated as Turkish subjects.
They have accordingly to request that immediate instruction be sent to the Vali of
Basrah to recognise the right of Her Majesty's Consul to intervene jn cases in which
natives of Bahrein are concerned."
339. Her Majesty's Governnjent expressed their approval of this communi
cation.
340. Another note was addressed by Sir P. Currie to the Porte on 4th April
No, 68, of Secret E, January ,897, Nos. 50-74. ' 8 9 6 ' ^ deta ' ,S of th< f P'^-. 13ut
the 1 urkisn Government took no action on
our complaint.