'The Seven Independent Arabian States [Yemen, ‘Asir, Hijaz, Najd, Kuwait, Jabal Shammar and al-Jawf]' [‎189r] (377/680)

23
lie was willing, therefore, should Lord Clarendon desire it,
as a matter of courtesy to the Persian Government, to issue
instructions to the Government of India to direct the
^sident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (whenever he might on any
suture occasion, under orders from India, be about to call
the C hief of Bahrein to account for any breach of his engage
ments with the British Government) to notify the fact to the
British Minister at Tehran for the information of the Shah's
Government. Circumstances might, however, arise in
which the Resident might, in the general interests of peace
and order be called upon to act promptly on his own
responsibility, and in such cases the Secretary of State was
not willing to waive what he considered " as not onlv a right m r
pertaining to but a duty incumbent upon, the" British Motsin
Government.;' The Foreign Office concurred in these views Khan,
and the Persian representative was informed accordingly. 29.4.1869.
The p ersian representative on receipt of the Foreign F.O. tol .0.,
Uttice letter asked that m order to make it more palatable 11.5.1869.
to the Shah, certain modifications should be made in it. * a to F - 0 "
After private discussion between Lord Clarendon and the
Luke of Argyll, of which no record exists, and an interview
between the Envoy and Lord Clarendon, it was finally agreed
to accept the modification embodied in the opening para
graph of the letter which follows, but also to make the
addition contained in the last paragraph of that letter • and
a letter so amended was despatched to him. The text
(omitting an introductory paragraph) of the amended letter,
w ich is of importance as one of the principal pieces of
evidence subsequently adduced by the Persian Government
m support of their claim that Her Majesty's Government
have recognised Persian sovereignty over Bahrein, is as
a a T ' ■ T1 w sentences ^ Dalies are those which were
added m deference to the further representations from
General Mohsm Khan referred to above : —
" The British Government readily admit that the
Government of the Shah has protested against the
Persian right of sovereignty over Bahrein being ignored
by the British Authorities, and they have given due
consideration to that protest. But it is the fact, as
yourself and the Government of the Shah are un-
doubtecHy aware, that the Sheikhs of Bahrein have
a '[ ! e i ren 4 ? e . ri 1 od ® entered directly into engagements
X r.i n • r - tl 1 r. 0rninent; and 1 be g t0 ass " re you
that the British Government hold the Sheikh to these
engagements solely for the purposes of preventing
p ir + ? cy S1 2J e 1 Tracie » an d of maintaining the police
0 tJle ^"ll- I± the Persian Government are prepared
to keep a sufficient force in the Gulf for these purposes
this country would be relieved of a troublesome and
cost 3 duty; but, if the Shah is not prepared to
undertake these duties, Her Majesty's Government
cannot suppose His Majesty would wish that in those
waters disorder and crimes should be encouraged bv
impunity. J
" I need scarcely assure you of the friendly feelings
entertained by Her Majesty's Government towards
1 ersia, and their desire on all occasions to meet as far
as possible the wishes of the Shah; and, in regard to
this question, I have the honour to state to you that
whenever it is practicable to do so, Her Majesty's
Government will cause the Persian Government to be
informed beforehand of any measures of coercion
agamst himself which the conduct of the Sheikh of
Baliiein may have rendered necessary.
" Ihit the British Government cannot consent to debar
its ojjicers, to whom the superintendence of the police of