Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎102v] (204/644)

8
47. Complaints were made by the Bahreinis to His Majesty’s vice-consul
at Mohammerah and also to the Sheikh of Bahrein, who expressed great concern
at the way in which his subjects were being treated and asked the Political
Resident to do what he could to alleviate the position.
48. It appeared on investigation that two main classes of Bahreinis were
involved : those born at Bahrein, or at any rate outside Persia; and those born
m Persia. These classes were again divided into those who owned land and
those who did not. As in the case of the Kurramis in North Persia and British-
protected persons at Charbar, it was fairly certain that the Bahreinis at Gusbah
were endeavouring to avoid all the responsibilities of Persian nationality, while
at the same time escaping the disabilities suffered by foreigners.
49. It was obvious that the Legation was unable to protect Bahreinis born
in Persia, since they had dual nationality, and it was equally evident that those
who owned land, even if born outside Persia, would do well to accept sij ills,
i athei than lose their land, hven the remainder (those born outside Persia who
owned no land) would be well advised to accept si j ills in the last resort, as this
would not affect their status as Bahreinis should they subsequently choose to
leave Persia.
50. Advice on these lines was tendered to the Bahreinis by His Majesty’s
vice-consul after His Majesty’s Minister had failed to persuade the central
authorities not to press the question of registration.
51. Some discussion ensued as to the merits of retaliation, but, as in 1932,
it was agreed that no useful purpose would be served by restrictive measures
against Persians in Bahrein.
52. 1 he question of the treatment of Bahreinis in Persia is bound up with
the main Bahrein problem considered in the previous section of the report, and no
settlement of the minor issue seems possible until the major question is solved.
On this occasion the trouble died down slowly, and it is not unlikely that by now
almost every Bahreini who has elected to remain in Persia has taken out a si j ill.
(e) Basidu.
JJarly in January the Minister for Foreign Affairs’ reply to the note of
the 28th December regarding the arrest ol the Mudir (see paragraph 252 of the
annual report for 1933) was received. It proved to contain a statement that even
had the Mudu been sent straight back to Basidu, the Persian Government would
have protested against his arrest, since they recognised no British rights at
Basidu. Nevertheless, in view of the desire for friendly relations expressed in
the Legation s note, the Persian Government did not wish the dispute to be
continued. 1
^4. All difficulty was, however, not yet at an end. In his statement before
the Majlis (see paragraph 251 of the 1933 report) the Minister for Foreign
Affairs went much further than had been expected. The arrest of the Mudir was
explained as being due to a misunderstanding, and it was stated that the naval
guard had been withdrawn and that the institutions which the British had latelv
set up there without permission had been abolished.
55. His Majesty’s Minister considered, however, that it would be unwise to
leopen the argument, and after consultation with the Foreign Office he was
instructed merely to indicate verbally to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that His
Majesty s Government were unfavourably impressed with his statement, which
went beyond what had been agreed at his audience with the Shah, but that, as the
statement was obviously for internal consumption, he was willing to drop the
matter. It was decided to make no mention of the possibility of re-establishing
56. I his exchange brought the Mudir incident to a close.
n IK h? ^ ^stion that arose was the future of the inhabitants of
V® 1 U ’ 7 10 been brought up to consider themselves as British subjects and
who would undoubtedly suffer if the concession was surrendered to the Persians.
investl , g oVnn ’ t ^ e F olltl ?j l ResideR t suggested that he be authorised
to spend the sum of £400, which would probably suffice to transport elsewhere such