Page 118 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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(2.) British Declarations to the Ottoman Government respecting their Claim to
Sovereignty over Bahrein.
1839. In 1839,on the occasion of the irruption of flic Egyptian Army into Ncjd, the
Mr. E. Dcrtxlct's Memo- R widen t in tlio Persian (julf informed the agent of the Egyptian Commander
raudurn, Maroh 23, 1874, (hid (lie Hiitinti Government could not admit any claim of the 1'ushu (*.«., Egypt and
P-5. Turkey; upon Bahrein.
1851. 2. In 1*51 tlio Sheikh of Bahrein was reported to he desirous of placing himself
m ei ot . r. Milder Turkish protection. Sir Stratford Canning was thereupon instructed to inform
No.P 40™ February l*’ ^,c j1,1.Ministers that Her Majesty’s Government could not acknowledge nor
1831. ’ y ’ acquiesce in any such arrangement, seeing that the Government of British India had
had relations with Bahrein as an independent Stut*\ and had concluded with it certain
Treaties. lie was, moreover, to inform them that fno British (jovernment must object
to any arrangement which would trausler Bahrein to the dominion or protectorship of
any other Power.
1870. 3. In .lanuury 1870, the Turkish Ambassador in London communicated to the
Foreign Ollice a telegram from the Porte, asking for an explanation of the proceedings
at Bahrein of the British Resident. In this telegram Bahrein was referred to in the
following terms: “ L’llo do Bahrein n’ayant jamais cesse, que nous sachions, de faire
par tie den possessions Ottomanes.” Upon this, the British Ambassador at Constauti-
To Mr. Barron, No. 19, ,,0pi° waH instructed “ to explain courteously to the Porte that the British Government
February 8, 1870 ; and could not recognizo its claim to the sovereignty of Bahrein, with regard to which a
from ditto, No. 21, Fob- similar decision was pronounced by Lord Palmerston in his despatch of the 12th
ruary 19, 1870. February, 1851.”
1874. 4. In 1874, in reference to a claim made by the Porte to enforce conscription
against natives of Bahrein resident in Bussorah, the Turkish Ambassador was referred
To Musurus Pasha, April to the communications of 185.1 and 1870, distinctly stating that Her Mujcsty’s Govem-
incut did not admit the claim of Turkey to consider Bahrein as a part of the Ottoman
dominions, and that, if natives of that island applied to British Oousuls in Turkey for
protection, the latter could not refuse their good offices on behalf of such persons.
1S74. 5. In 1874 a piratical attack was made upon Bahrein by the Beni Hajir tribe,
instigated by Nnzir-bin-Moharik and other Bahrein exiles, who signed a Petition
claiming the protection of the Turkish Government. A Memorandum on this subject
was handed to the Porte by the British Ambassador, in which it wus stated tlmt the
Sir H. Elliot, No. 0, January British Government, could not recognize any rights or pretensions of the Porto over
8. 1875. the island.
1875. 0. At. the end of 1875 the British Ambassador ut Constantino]tie spoke to the
Turkish Minister, Sal'vet Bey, about, the supposed intention of the Porte to eause a
Sir H. KllioB No.657, Octo- lighthouse to be erected at Bahrein, and pointed out to him that Her Majesty’s
ber 1~. J -j. Government would not al)**w the independence of Bahrein to be interfered with horn
any quarter, und that nny cmim on the part of the Porte to sovereignty over Bahrein
would not be acquiesced in by them.
1876. 7. In 1876 steps were taken by the Governor of Bussorah to enforce the claims of
El Kntr merchant# against. Bahrciuese. Sir li. Elliot addressed a note to the Turkish
iR"60fc’‘ r11 Government on the subject, reminding them of the determination of Her Majesty’ll
"’ 1 • Government to protect Bahrein against any attack upon its independence.
1879. 8. In 1879 the British Ambassador made representations to the Porte respecting
Sir II. Layard, No. 750, ^,c imposition, by the Turkish authorities at Bussorah, of double taxes on vessels
Anga-it 24, 1870. arriving from Bahrein and Muscat on tlm ground that those places were Turkish ports.
He reminded the Porte that His Majesty’s Government had never recognized the porta
as belonging to Turkey, and protested against the assumption that they were Turkish
porta.
9. Tlio Turkish claim to jurisdiction over Bahrein waa renewed in 1888, and tlio
1888.
Ottoman Government were consequently informed that nny attempt, to efiect a landing
Sir W. White. No. 112, at Bahrein would be opposed by force. They wore also informed that any claim ox
Marcli 15, 1888. the Porte to jurisdiction over the (Jliiuf of Bahrein could not be admitted, as Ilor
To Sir W White No. 121, Mujesty’a Government regarded him us an independent Ruler, with whom they wero in
°A|>ril 17, 1888. ' Treaty relations.
10. A question arose in 1892 ol the British protection of Bahreiueae at Bussorah.
1892. Acting upon instructions, the British Ambassador ut Constantinople addressed a note
to the Porte, stating that, as Bahrein was under the protection of Her Majesty the
Sir Claro Ford, No. 348, Queen of Englund, no interference by the Ottoman authorities with natives of that
November 15, 1892.
island could be admitted. #
1892. 11. In the same year'*(1892) a landing of Turkish troops in the island was appre-
sir Clare Ford, No. 110 bended, and tho Porte was accordingly informed that such action would be opposed
(Tolcirraphic), Dooerobor by British ships of war.
11,1892. i2, A further communication was made to the Porto in 1893 on tho subject of
1893. British protection of Babreiimsc. 'fin's pointed out that tho refusal of Her Majesty’s
Sir Claro Fo_<d, No. 189, Government to recognize the sovereignty of the Sultan over the island had been
May 11, 1893. consistent and undoubted. It went on to say that, having regard to the engagements
towurds the Chief oi Bahrein undertaken by Her Majesty's Government, they must
continue to maintain tho right of their Diplomatic and Consular Officers in the Ottoman