مجموعة ٣٠/٩٠ "المطالبة الفارسية بجزيرة البحرين" [ظ‎‎٤‎٩‎٤] (١٠٦٢/١٠٠١)

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42
Aitch.|XIII,
Xo. v, 53.
never intended to bear the interpretation now placed upon
it by the Persian Government (cp. in thts connection para-
oranhs 102 and 110 above), and m stating that due
consideration had been given in the past by Her Majesty s
(rDveniment to the Persian claim it did not m any y
admit that that claim was valid. The Note indeed con
firmed the intention of the British Government to continue
to hold the Sheikhs to the treaty engagements which had
been entered into with them as independent rulers.
(b) The undertaking given by Her Majesty’s Government
in the same correspondence to communicate m future wit
Persia before undertaking punitive action against the rulers
of Bahrein is prima facie consistent with a recognition
by Her Majesty’s Government of Persian claims to that
island. But it appears, however, in fact to have been
no more than a courteous indication by His Majesty s
Government of their desire to pay the fullest possible
attention to any Persian claims. It will be observed that the
first (and apparently the only) communication made to the
Persian Government in discharge of this understanding,
intimated to that Government the intention of^ Her Majesty s
Government to proceed at once against the “Chief n o w i 11
possession of Bahrein” consequent on his breach of the
maritime peace and his attack on the Sheikh who had been
placed in power at Bahrein by the British Government.
(9) Closeness of Relations at the present Day between
Persia and Bahrein.
The Sheikhs of Bahrein are strongly opposed to any
recognition of Persian suzerainty (cp. paragraph 139). The
Persian suggestion that relations are at the present time
closer between Persia and Bahrein than between Bahrein
and any other independent civilised State is without found.a-
tion. Relations are at least equally close with Saudi Arabia,
and the closest relations are maintained in addition with
Great Britain and with British India.
The Terms of the Treaties of 1809, 1814 and 1857
between the British Government and Persia.
148. In addition to the nine arguments examined above,
Persia has on more than one occasion appealed to the
provisions of |her treaties of 1809, 1814 and 1857 with the
British Government in connection with her claim to
Bahrein. Her appeal is based substantially on the fact that
those treaties provide in certain circumstances for the
evacuation of Persian territory occupied by British troops.
The relevant passages of the treaties are as follows:—
(i) By the preliminary Treaty of 1809 between His
Majesty’s Government and Persia, the Persian Government
undertook not to “ permit any European force whatever to
pass through Persia either towards India or towards the
ports of that country ” ; while His Majesty’s Government
undertook “ in case any European forces have invaded or
shall invade the territories of His Majesty the King of
Persia ” to “ afford to His Majesty the King of Persia a force,
or in lieu of it a subsidy, with warlike ammunition . . .
and officers. ...”
Article 5 of the same treaty provided ; “ If a detachment
of British troops has arrived from India in the Gulf of Persia
and, by the consent of His Persian Majesty, landed on the
island of Karak or any of the Persian ports, they shall not in
any manner possess themselves of such places, and from the
date of these preliminary articles the said detachment shall