Page 42 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

so
spoaking, however, he has no legal authority for
undertaking these latter duties.
“ With a view to dcflno and regularize the
powers exercized over British subjects by the
Agent, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
has put forward fcho suggestion that ho should bo
appointed to be a Justico of the Pcaco and
endowed with the powers of a District Judge in
direct subordination to the High Court of
Bombay. Wo concur in this rccoinmondation,
but, with reference to clause 2 of * The Indian
Foreign Jurisdiction Order in Council, 1002,’ wo
understand that it would Ill’st be necessary for
Bahroin to be declared by His Majesty in Council
to lie a territory in which jurisdiction isoxorciscd
by, or on behalf of, Ilis Majesty through the
Governor-General in Council. Wo would ac­
cordingly request that, if His Majesty’s Govern­
ment see no objection, the necessary Order in
Council may bo parsed providing for the exercise
of jurisdiction in Bahroiu.
“ But further, in view of the increase of foreign
shipping and foreign interest generally in the
Gulf, and of the establishment of foreign firms
and missions in Bahroin, which has already
caused practical difficulties, it seems dosirahlo
that, if possible, in maintenance of the status quo
in the Gulf, provision should bo made in tho
Order in Council for tho exercise by tho Political
Agent of jurisdiction over foreigners in Bahrein,
before foreign interests have so largely developed
as to render the assumption of the legal duties of
a Protecting Power a matter of greater intricacy
and difficulty involving perhaps, as in the case of
Zanzibar, diplomatic representations to foreign
Powers. Bahrein 1ms been under sole British
domination since 1820, and on several occasions
wo have had to interfere by armed force, either
to prevent the Chiof of Bahrein from att*. eking
his neighbours, or them from attacking him, or
to settle matters relating to the Chiefship. In
1880, by a Treaty published for public infor­
mation, the Sheikh bound himself to abstain from
making Treaties of any sort with any State or
Government other than the British, and to
refuse to permit other Powors to establish
Diplomatic or Consular Agencies or coaling
dcp6ts without the consent of tho British Govern­
ment. This Treaty in itself constituted a sort of
protectorate, which has perhaps been ripened into
maturity by the open and regular exercise of