'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎111] (130/204)

111
m
Political E., August 1883, No. 41.
Secretary of State for India. The Sheikh of Bahrein refused to grant the firm any
concession and declined even to entertain relations with parties unauthorised by
the English Government. The firm's representative accordingly abandoned the
scheme.
While the matter was under consideration Colonel Pelly (then Agent to the
o . T v Governor-General, Raiputana) was consult-
Political A., January 1874, Nos. 333-41. jit 1 t • •
ed and discussed the question in an interest
ing letter No. 11, dated the 12th December 1873.
400. In 1883 a British Indian trader arrived with several divers on the pearl
« 117 t 1 00 nt banks near the Persian Coast. The Gov-
Political E., July 1883, Nos. 213 -219. c t t i i
ernment 01 India, to whom the matter was
referred, informed the Resident that if this man arranged with coast Arabs and
did not claim British protection there was
apparently no objectiofi. The 'party was
not successful and returned to Bombay.
401. In 1890 a Mr. Streeter proposed to fish for pearls and shell in deep
_ _ « q ,- water on the Arabian Coast of the Persian
Secret, E., June 1890, Nos. 155-159. n TU ^ c A i
Gulf. 1 he matter was referred to the
Government of India who, in addressing the Secretary of State for India, expressed
0 - . , 0 .. the opinion that it was undesirable to en-
Secret E., August 1890, Nos. 313-320. • r . . , . ^
courage the introduction 01 huropean enter
prise. The London Foreign Office informed Mr. Streeter that they were unable
to comply with his application for support.
402. In 1894 a Mr. Malcolm desired to apply to the Persian Government
0 , T * o kt - x: for a concession for pearl diving in the*
Secret E., June 1894, Nos.351-360. . r r> • If
„ „ . n ^ „ Persian waters of the Persian Gulr. He
ecret ., ugust 94, os. 30 O o . informed by Her Majesty's Govern
ment that they were unable to support his application.
403. In 1899* it was alleged that a concession for pearl fishing in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. had been granted by the
Persian Government to Messrs. Raphael
Sunye and Auguste Hagens in March of
1898, and laterf it was reported to have
been renewed by Russian influence in the name of Monsieur Sunye. Ihe Persian
.Government were informed by the Legation at Tehran that no contract could
be recognised which would have the effect of interfering with the rights exercised
by Chiefs underBritish protection.
404. In 1901, in connection with a project which was under the consideration
of the Porte to tax pearl fishers in the
Secret E, January 1901, Nos. 16-25. p erslan Gl]1{j gj, Nic0 | as O'Conor acquaint-
ed Tewfik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. with the British Government's objections to the grant of any
concession for pearl fishers in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , which would interfere with the
prescriptive rights of protected tribes.
405. In the same year a Hindu trader residing at Maskat obtained the per
mission of Sheikh Zaid-bin-Kalifah, Chief
Secret E., February , 5 o,, Nos. IS^S*. of Abu Thabi> to dive for pearls on a bank
situated within the Sheikh's jurisdiction and engaged a member of the Beni Yas
tribe to conduct the party to the point. The venture was, however, a failure.
In connection with this case the Chief of Bahrein and other Trucial Chiefs
expressed the opinion that no Chief had the right to give any such permission, as
the pearlingjbanks were the common property of the Coast Arabs.
406. In 1902 a British Indian subject desired to lease the Abuthabi
customs and obtained a concession for pearl
Secret E., August 1902. Nos. ,55-.57- fishing in Abu Thabi wat e rs . The Assist-
ant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrein pointed out to this man that, since the pearling
banks were regarded as the common property of the Arab divers, no Chief could
grant a concession to any individual to employ modern diving apparatus in
pearling operations off the Arabian Coast of the Gulf.
407. Early in 1903 Colonel Kemball reported that two Frenchmen named
Dumas and Castelin had arrived at Bahrein with the intention, it was suspected, of
• Secret E , June 1899, Nos. 187-191.
f Secret E., July igoo, Nos. 178-192.
Secret E., August 1900, No. 204.