مجموعة ٣٠/٩٠ "المطالبة الفارسية بجزيرة البحرين" [و‎‎٤‎٩‎١] (١٠٦٢/٩٩٤)

35
exercised important judicial powers in the islands. The
Sheikh in l.)09-l^ formally requested His Majesty’s
guers in
-- ills
Government to exercise jurisdiction over forei
Bahrein other than the subjects of Arab potentates. An
Order m Conned conferring such jurisdiction on the Political
Agent was made in 1913. It was supplemented by a further
Order m 1922. Since 1920 jurisdiction over all foreign
subjects has rested with the British authorities within the
limits of the Orders in Council.
lo-,. dhe Sheikh, on I4th May 1914, undertook not to
entertain. any overtures for an oil concession save after
consultation with the Political Agent and with the approval
of His Majesty’s Government.
Undertakings secured from Ibn Saud, December 1915.
133. In 1915 His Majesty’s Government, in entering
into an Agreement with Ibn Saud, then ruler of Nejd,
secured an undertaking from him “to refrain from all
aggression on, or interference with the territories of . . .
Bahrein. ...”
Persian Claim reasserted, 1922-23.
134. In 1922 His Majesty’s Consul at Bunder Abbas
reported that the Persian passport officials at Lingah had
ruled that Bahreinis were Persian subjects and should be
given Persian passports. They seized two British certificates
of identity granted to Bahrein subjects, but on representa
tions being made by the Minister at Tehran instructions
were given by the Central Government that there was to be
no repetition of this incident. In 1922, also, the Persian
delegate at a Postal Conference held at Bushire stated that
while not for the moment pressing for the transfer to Persia
of the Bahrein post office, his action was without prejudice
to the Persian claim to Bahrein.
135. In 1923, consequent on a Press campaign and a
discussion in the Majliss on the desirability of giving
Bahrein the right to return a member to the Persian Parlia
ment, which was referred to a Commission for report, His
Majesty’s Government decided that it was desirable to
address a formal Note to the Persian Government in terms
similar to those employed in 1906 (paragraph 124 above).
Owing to the difficult internal situation in Persia this
proposal was dropped, but in September 1923 the Persian
Government was informed that the island was now a British
protectorate, and that His Majesty’s Government did not
contemplate any alteration of its status. The Persian
Minister for Foreign Affairs replied that the Government of
which he was a member had no intention of laying claim to
Bahrein on behalf of Persia. But despite this statement the
Minister for Foreign Affairs again reverted to the question
in the following month.
His Majesty’s Government remove Sheikh Isa for
Misgovermnent (1923).
136. Consequent on the gross misgovernment of Sheikh
Isa, who had been ruler of Bahrein since 1869, the Sheikh
was deprived by His Majesty’s Government of his control of
affairs in Bahrein on 26th May 1923, and was granted an
allowance, his son, Sheikh Hamad (whose right of succession
had been recognised by His Majesty’s Government in 1901)
being appointed to act for him “as his father’s fully
empowered agent.”
Oil concession granted by Sheikh, 1925.
137. In 1925 an oil concession was granted by the
-Sheikh of Bahrein to the Eastern and General Syndicate, a
British corporation, with the approval of His Majesty’s
Government.
483 '
Aitch., XI,
Xo. xvi,
239.
Aitch., XT,
Xo. ii,
2C6-8.
P.G. 13,
67, § 26.
P.G. 13.
67-8, §§ 27-
9.
P.G. 13,
63-4,
§§ H-14.