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324 Records oj Bahrain

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as represented in theso letters, lias been deliberately
taken, and with a full knowledge of bow it was likely
to affect the policy of the British Government in the
Gulf. As corroborativo testimony, lie has forwarded a
copy of a letter from the British Agent at Lingah, which
reports the assembling in November last of some six
hundred Persian soldiers at Daycr, under the Chief, Ilydcr
Khan, with the view of a movement upon Bahrein.
24. The Persian Government’s version of this
affair is contained in a despatch from Her Majesty’s
Charge d'affaires at Teheran, No. 9di, dated December
lllhj 18G9, a copy of which has been received by the
Viceroy direct. The Shah admits that Eajee Abd Alee
was his Agent to Bahrein, and complains that be was
prevented “ from landing or communicating with the
Chief, and that in consequence, of this interference oa
the part of the Resident he was obliged to return to
Bahrein without having delivered his letters to tlio
persons to whom they were addressed.” His Majesty has
expressed his regret that his Agent should have been
/ slopped, and hopes that steps may be taken to prevent
such an occurrence in future. Mr. Thomson further
intimates his,belief that Mirza Mclidcc Khan has urged
/ on the Persian Government that it cannot under present
circumstances overcome or counteract the influence of
the British Government, now paramount in the Gulf,
and has, therefore, recommended the formation of o
Persian flotilla “ as a means of making good the Shah's
claims to sovereignty over Bahrein, aud of resisting
the pretensions of the Imam of Muscat at Bunder
Abbass and elsewhere on the shores of the Gulf, and of
coercing the Arab Chiefs on the shores of the Gulf.
Mr. Thomson thinks that the capture of Bunder Abbnss
by Sheikh Saced last summer and the recent proceed­
ings which we have been compelled to sanction against
Bahreiu may probably induce tho Persian Government
to take up again in earnest the question of a nma
force, now that the want of it has been brought direct y
to its notice by Mcbdcc Khan.
25. Mr. • Thomson's despatch (No. 94) is °J
four days’ earlier date than
• KnrloAiiro lo No. 21, from that in which Colonel Polly re
llombA/,* tinted January
20lh, 1870. ported to us through the Bombay