Page 335 - Records of Bahrain (2) (i)_Neat

326 Records of Bahrain

( 2d, ) '

while in one of those forwarded by Mr. Thomson it is
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alleged that Ali- bin IChalifa, when alive, made overtures
to Persia, involving'the admission of his ' allegiance to
the Shah. Mr. Thomson has not favoured us with
his views concerning the truth of this statement. We
have, however, invited an expression of opinion from
him on this point as well as on the other inconsistencies
which we have shown to exist between the accounts of the
Persian Government and Colonel Pelly concerning this
v/ affair. But even if the statement of the PepiaaGovern-
• ^ ment regarding Ali bin Khalifa’s overtures be correct, we
cannot admit that such overtures, made without our
knowledge and consent, cau in any way affect our Treaty
relations with Bahrein.
20. In view of the facts set forth in this despatch
we deem it a matter of great importance that no ads
or words on the part of the Persian Government which
involve the rcassertion of-her right to sovereignty over
Bahrein should be allowed to pass without firm remon--
strancc. We trust, therefore, that Her Majesty’s Govern- ,•
ment will agree with us as to the expediency of calling on j
the Persian Government, through the Minister at Teheran,
for an explanation of the conduct of its local officers
in countenancing the unprovoked attack of Mahomed bin
Abdoolla on Bahrein by nominating him to the Chief-
ship of that island, and of the successive appointments of
Ali bin Khalifa and Mahomed bin Khalifa to that dignity.
Unless some such explanation be requested and accorded,
whilst the matter is fresh, ,wc fear that silence may
be misconstrued, Au.d that very serious complications
hereafterjujse.< ApartTrom the positive engagements
winch w5T have contracted with the Arab Chiefs, and
which.it is neither possible nor desirable that we
; • ■ ..e ould recede, the present is not a time when we can
7 encourage the revival of old and unfounded claims such
/ as josc which Persia now puts forward. During the
'->xj I jcais o peace that have followed the establishment of
/ °Ur 8Ul,rj5n,acy in the Persian Onlft trade has enormously
increased, and the predatory Arabs have embarked in .
peaceful and mercantile pursuits on the faith of tho
security which our protectorate affords. British steamers
now ply. weekly from one end of the Gulf to the other,
nn our subjects have embarked large capital in the

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