Page 11 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

The Bahrain Order in Council, 1907-1913 427

their subjects by the Political Agent, it will be preferable that our action
should be based on a requost from the Sheikh to be relieved of the
responsibility of exorcising jurisdiction over foreigners. When this
has been arranged, an Order in Council can bo issued, It does
not seem expedient to mako the Order in Council the medium,of
formally declaring a protectorate over Bahrein. Persian and Turkish
claims to the sovereignty of the island have been repudiated by
us in a form to precludes the necessity of any further discussion of
the question with them. But neither Turkey nor Persia lias formally
abandoned its claims, and the Persian Government have not recognised,
though we have consistently asserted, our right to protect Bahreinis in
Persian territory. Tn the present political conditions of Turkey and
Persia it is clear that we should scrupulously avoid any action that
could bo represented as an attempt, to utilise their difficulties for selfish
purposes. There is also the risk that the formal declaration of a
protectorate might be regarded as a challenge by other Powers than
Persia and Turkey, who might raise the question of our rights in a
provocative form.

5. I request that the Political Agent at Bahrein may be instructed
to approach the Sheikh, with the object of obtaining from him, as
a necessary preliminary to the issue of tho Order in Council, a request
that the British Government will relieve him of the responsibility of
exercising jurisdiction over foreigners in tho island.
0. As regards British subjects, no difficulty arises in respect of the
proposed Order in Council in view of the terms of Article 4 of the
Treaty of 1861, and of tho usage that has been established.

7. It will be convenient that the first draft of the Order in Council
should be prepared by Your Excellency's Government, with a view to
providing for any local peculiarities that may require consideration.

1 have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient humble Servant,
(Signed) Moui.kv of Blackumix.