Page 89 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

83
at present worked by tho tribes within our Pro­
tectorate might, if challenged, be defended with a
reasonable chance of success.
“ There remains, however, the case of foreign
exploitation of deep wnters outside the sphere in
which wo believe that it may be shown tlmt
immemorial usage and occupation have con­
ferred prescriptive rights. In this still wider
area we doubt whether wo possess claims in sup­
port of which wo could appeal to any law or
international practice, and we fear that possible
detriment to the pearl banks in which we hold
prescriptive rights would furnish no valid ground
for objecting to legitimate foreign enterprise
outside the sphere of Arab occupation; but. by
authorizing the Chiefs to abstain from all inter­
course with such interlopers, and to utilize the
powers which they possess of interdicting tho
importation of foreign diving appliances, of
refusing to lend any assistance in men, boats, or
in any other form, or, if necessary in tho last
resort, of removing any such foreigner from their
territories, we might succeed in putting such
serious impedimenta in the way of such enter­
prises as would discourage outsiders from
engaging in them.
“ The question is fortunately not one in which
we are at present called upon to decide as to the
exact nature of the rights or tho precise limits of
the jurisdiction which tho several Chiefs possess,
and which we, as the paramount Power, are
bound to assert and maintain on their behalf ;
but in view of the possibility of further attempts,
whether by British Companies or by foreign
capitalists, we think it advisable to be prepared
in advance. We shall, therefore, bo glad to
know whether His Majesty’s Government concur
in the views above set forth, and to receive any
instructions which it may bo deemed advisable
to issue for tho guidance of our local officers in
the event of renewed adventures of a more
determined character.”

II.

“ We were honoured with your Lordship’s com­
mands, signified in Sir Eldon Gorst’a letter of
the 19th October last transmitting to us the
accompanying papers, relative to the question of
the steps to be tuken to prevent foreign inter-
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