'File 12/2 Treatment of Baharna in Persia' [‎141r] (281/440)

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for they know that they are powerlecsto interfere in what
happens in Bahrain. If the persecution continued, the school-
s (which are a confounded nuisance) could be closed one
by one and the question of the Pahlavi cap could be taken
up later, I think that these twoi and particularly
the Pahlavi cap, would have a real effect on the Persian
Government and if the Minister were to drop a hint to
this effect verablly it would be possible to gauge its effect
without having to put it into writing and so enable us to
resile from the position if we found that the weapon was
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likely to be useless. Indealing with Persians their pride
must never be lost sight of, and sense recognised as only a
subsidiary factor in their compostion.
To sum up -
4. (l) rle admit that we can do nothing for Bahrainis with
landed property. There is no objection to telling both them
and the Shaikh of this.
(2) We must get round the clash between our normal
obligation to protect the children of British protected
pubjects and the provision of the Persian Nationality lirw
mentioned in sections 4 and 5 of paragraph 5 of the Foreign
Office letter by explaining to the Shaikh that we have
accepted this position for our ,wj6n subjects and that
moreover the new proclamation in B; j.rain has mueh the same
effect. We should also explain that since Bahrainis born in
Persia have obviously every indention of remaining there
it i s in their own interest to accept Persian nationality,
though they would still be entitle d to Bahrain nationality
should they ever return to Bahrain . I see no objection
to the Consul at Mohammerah explaining their position under
the Persian nationality law to Bahrainis and advising them
privately to accept Persian nationality under protest.
(3) We must make a genuine attempt to pr tect Bahrainis
torn in Bahrain and th.reaten retaliation if our calim to do /
this