Page 315 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Persian claim to Bahrain, 1948 303
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U A II R K I N •</j
uC 1948
Tho Archipelago of Bahrein forma un independent Arab

Sheikhdom under 13riti ah protection, Ito proaent population
of 120,000 i3 Arab lurgely Uttabi and Huwala. The springs of
freeh water on the main island made Bahrein the natural centre
of the gulf pearling trude which is now, us in the past, in the
hands of Indian-merchants who with Persians und Jews control
moat of the Sheikhdom'a trade, Its present economic importance
results from tho discovery of oil on tlie iuland and tho
Bahrein Oil Company, u company roglsterod in Canada, as part
of tho "political agreement" by which His Majesty's Government's
permission wus required before tho concossion was grantod, has a
refinery in which the local crudo qb well as purt of that
produced in the Dhah*an\[\Leld of the Arab!an-Americon Oil Company
i3 processed. His Majesty's Government is represented in
Buhroin by a Polilicul Agent and tho Headquarters of the
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf has lately been moved
there from Bushlre. There is a small naval buse for tho
Peril an Gulf Squadron^ and the island has considerable
strategic importance both as a possible Aiture base and as a
vital link in British air communicat ions with the Par Past.
Responsibility for tho Sheikhdoms of tho Gulf will be taken
over by the Foreign Office from the 1st of April tills year
and Sir A Noble and Mr. Caccia are now on a tour of inspection
there.
Tho evidenco available on the hiotory of Bahrein in early
times goes to show that Bahrein was governed by independent

chiofo^except for a period of Porsiun domination in tho oarly
part of the Christian ora and botween A.U. GIB - 7215,10 which
year the islands wore conquered by tho Caliphs who ruled there
until tlie 11th century.
In tho Middle Agee the Arab rulors of Ilormuz invaded Bahroi:
and wore in power until dofoated by *tho Portugese in 1S66

when/• • • •