Page 93 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

87
prevented from fishing on the banks, but that
the object in view might probably bb attainable
by “ indirect methods,” i.e.:—
“ By Authorizing tho Chiefs to abstain from nil intcr-
oourHO with such interlopers, and to utilize the powers
which they possess of interdicting the importation of
foreigu diving appliances, of refusing to lend any
assistance in men, boats, or in any othor form, or, if uecca-
sary, in tho last resort, of removing any such f6reigner
from their territories.”
It can hardly be maintained that this solution
is satisfactory; the pursuit of such a course,
even if effective in its immediate object, might
not improbably give rise in practice to a sharp
diplomatic conflict, and result in the serious
discomfiture of Ilis Majesty’s Government, whose
guiding principle of free trade in the Gulf would
appear as of varying interpretation, while its
assertion would clearly he sacrificed to meet the
exigencies of a critical situation.
With the rapid extension of German enter­
prise in these regions the pearl fisheries are not
unlikely to receive considerable attention within
the next few years, and it appears eminently
desirable to determine whether a situation at
present fraught with danger and uncertainty
cannot he regularized in a manner likely to
conciliate conflicting interests.
His Majesty’s Government are at present on
the horns of a dilemma—on the one hand, they
cannot prevent dredging operations by foreigners;
on the other, they are faced with tho knowledge
that such operations will render destitute a large
number of Arabs, who in default of the pearl
fisheries, must either starve or turn pirates
(see p. k‘t).
For tho welfare and the tranquillity of these
tribes Ilis Majesty’s Government are by pres­
cription responsible; to secure these objects
British lives and money have been sacrificed on
a large scale; and to abandon now the policy
of n century would lie both misguided and
pusillanimous.
Safeguarding of the Pearl An alternative course would be to approach
Fisheries. foreign Governments and to explain the pecu­
liarity of tho situation; the measures taken in
the course of the last 100 years to suppress
piracy and to maintain order; the interest of all
who frequent the Gulf in the tranquillity of the
tribes inhabiting the coasts; tho complications
[1098] 2 A