Page 44 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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island for over fifty years; for nearly a- century
tho safely of the pearl industry, of which Bahrein
is the centre, has been assured by British ships;
and British Consular protection has been regularly
afforded to Bahrcineso in Turkey and in Persia.
It would now seem to bo matter for serious
consideration whether the time has not arrived
to regularize the position at Bahrein by a more
dofiuito assertion of British predominance. Tlio
Government of Indio, in their despatch already
quoted (sco page 35), havo set- forth the argu­ Jurisdiction over Foreigners.
ments in favour of tlio exercise of jurisdiction
over foreigners, and the advantages of udopting
such a course before foreign interests have so
largely developed as to render the assumption of
the legal duties of a Protecting Power n matter
of greater intricacy and difficulty.
The question arises whether it would not he
more practicable and be loss likely to ovoke
hostile comment if the assumption of these duties
(which would probably necessitate a notification
to foreign Powers) were accompanied by various
a<lministrativo reforms, which, carried out under Administrative Reforms.
British control, would conduco to tho general
prosperity of commerce, check the traffic in arms
which now exists, and gradually place the
revenuo of tho Sheikh upon a more stable footing.
That such reforms aro desirable has been
recoguizcd by the Government of India in earlier
despatches ; unfortunately, though steps in tho
right direction hove been taken, no substantial
improvement has been effected since the native
Agent was succeeded by a British Agent in lffOO.
Writing in this year, Mr. Zweracr, an American
missionary resident at Bahrein, asserted that:—
“Oppression, blackmail, and bribery aro
universal, and except in commorcc and the
Slave Trade, English protection has brought
about no reforms in the island. To be ‘ pro­
tected ’ means here strict neutrality os to the
internal alfaire, and absolute dictation as to
affairs with other Governments."
It is much to be regretted that tho negotia­
tions for the control of tho customs proved Customs Control.
abortive, and, in view of tho increasing im­
portance of Bahrein, it is worth while con­
sidering whether the Sheikh should not be
offered a large subsidy in return for the
— customs, which, under British control, would,
no doubt, give a far larger yield. It is
eminently desirable in tho iutorosts of tho
island that tho finances should bo reformed, Financial Reform.