Page 36 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953
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template any attack upon thorn. (Vide Sir II.
Elliot’s dospatch No. 399 of tho/lth November,
1871.)
In October 1873 a quostion aroso regarding
the enforced enlistment of natives of Bahrein
into the Turkish Army. A notowas accordingly
addressed to the Turkish Ambassador on the 14th
April, 1871, which after drawing his Excellency’s 1871.
attention to previous communications, distinctly
stated that Her Majesty’s Government did not
admit the claim of Turkoy to consider Bahrein ns
part of the Ottoman Dominions,and that,if natives
of that island applied to British Consuls in
Turkey for protection, the latter could not rofuso
their good offices on boluvlf of such persons. i
In Juno 1879 the British Ambassador at To Sir.11. Layacd,
Constantinople was instructed to make repre- jUun 5,1870.
sentations respecting a reported proposal to Sir II Uynrd,
establish a Turkish coal dcp6t at Bahrein, and !
to urge the Porto to disavow tho project. Action India Oilier*,
Sopteiulx-r 20. i
was also taken by tho Indian Government in order
lS/'J.
to induce the Sheikh of Bahrein, in tho ovent I
of the proposal being mado to him, to act upou
the advice of the British Political President in
the Porsian Gulf.
An attempt was actually made in 1880 by a Admiralty,
1 May 14, 1880.
Turkish vessel to establish a coaling station at
Bahrein, but was frustrated by the Sheikh, who
refused permission for tbo undertaking.
As a result of this incident, the Shoikh 1880.
was induced to conclude a Treaty with the
British Government by which ho undertook
to abstain from entering into negotiations with
any other Power, and to refuse permission to any
other Government to establish agencies orccaling
dep6ts on his territory.
in 188S-9 tho Turkish claim to Bahrein was 1888-9.
rc-assertcd and refuted. The Ottoman Govern
ment were informed that any attempt to land
on the island would be opposed by force (vide
despatches No. 15 of tbo 26th January, 1888,
and No. 121 of the 17th April, 1888, to Sir W.
White).
A question of British protection over Bali- 1692.
reinese in Turkey arose in 1892 over the rcsti- To Sir C. Ford,
tution of taxes levied at Bussorah, and Her Telegraphic,
Majesty’s Ambassador reminded tho Porte that, ^8t!)'20ml)0r 10’
Bahrein being under British protection, Her
Majesty’s Government could not admit Turkish
interference with the uutives of the island.
A landing of Turkish troops was again appro- 1892.