'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎177v] (359/386)

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in the present state of affairs, under the Protectorate of Great Britain in the
following sense :—
(i) The British Government, and they alone, as distinct from Turkey,
Persia, or any other Power, control the foreign relations of Bahrein.
1 he Sheikh has bound himself not to enter into relations with
any other Power. The British Government therefore undertake
the protection of foreigners in Bahrein.
(ii) The reciprocal aspect of this obligation is that Great Britain is
bound to protect the islands from any external aggression or
, assault. . ,
(iii) From these circumstances it results that British influence and
authority are and must be in the ascendant in Bahrein. Primari
ly this influence is political both in charcter and origin ; and it
gives Great Britain the right to c'aim that, in any matter to which
she attaches high importance, her advice must be followed. The
acceptance of British advice in such circumstances is the return
paid by the State for the advantages which British protection
confers. British rights in this repect were explicitly stated in the
recent ultimatum which was presented by you to the Sheikh
on the 24th February 1905 in compliance with instructions.
Further, if British advice must be accepted it follows that action
in contravention of it whether it takes the form of vacillation, of
bad faith, or of open contumacy, cannot he tolerated, the Protect
ing Power being the judge of the manner in w r hich it will pro
hibit, reprimand, or punish such action.
(iv) The British paramountcy in Bahrein is commercial as well as political
in character. This follows partly as a consequence of political
predominance, but still more, in the case of Bahrein, from the
undisputed commercial predominance of Great Britain in the
islands and ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(v) The political position of Great Britain in Bahrein has given her not
merely an interest, but a recognised right of interference in the
succession. It was at the instance of the Sheikh himself that
she recognised his eldest son. She holds herself at liberty to
withdraw that recognition whenever—for good reasons—she
may think it desirable, and to nominate another successor in his
place. The exercise of this right is of course inconsistent with
independent sovereignty and it may he said to involve in a sense
direct interference with the internal affairs of the State. It is
understood that no such right is claimed in the case of any of tho
Trucial States A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. on the Arab coast of the Gulf, and its frank admis
sion the Chief of Bahrein is the most explicit evidence yet
supplied of tho dimensions which the Protectorate has already
assumed.
(vi) Ihe case of the Customs may be brought within the prerogative of
the Protecting Power, under more than one of the above-named
heads, according to the point of view from which it is regarded.
Originally the appointment of a British Customs officer was
advocated by British Besidentsin the Gulf as a mark of British
authority. Then it was recommended in the interest of the Sheikh
and the equilibrium of his finances. Finally, it was urged in the
interest of Sheikh Hamed, his son, whose future position our
recognition of his claims to the succession required us to safe
guard. Whichever of these views be adopted, the insistance of
Great Britain upon the measure may be regarded as an illustra
tion of the advice which, in virtue of her general controlling
authority, she deems it necessary to give, and which the Sheikh is
not at liberty permanently to disregard.
a^ove are, in the opinion of the Government of India, approximately
the limits of our Protectorate, so far as it has as yet been developed/ It follows