Page 355 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Bahrain-UK relations 343

PERSIAN GULF RESIDENCY,
BAHRAIN.
SECRET. 12th April 1049.
(50/8/40)

Please refer to your S.O. letter E 2083/1067/91 of the
31st March regarding the Shaikh of Bahrain's desire for an
assurance of protection against aggression.
i. I have not commented previously on the question of the
publicity which might be given to any new written agreement
with the Shaikh, firstly becauso I am doubtful to what extent
and in what manner publicity will have to be given to any
such agreement, and secondly, becauso so far as the Gulf States
are concerned, publicity would do no harm and might ovon be
desirable.
3. The Shaikh has repeatedly asked that an assurance should
bo given to him in writing. He is, I think, fully confident
himsolf that His Majesty's Government would furnish him with
the fullest posslblo protection in the event of an emergency
but he wants to have something ho can show to others who do
not share hi3 confidence. In the ciroumstancos, he will not
be satisfied with a verbal assurance and our refusal to give
him a written one may only load him to doubt our bona fldes.
4. I do not fully understand why you think that it may be
embarrassing to have to explain to the Shaikh that under inter­
national law his State is rogarded as being under British pro­
tection. He has specifically asked for a written assurance .
that it is so regarded, vide my telegram 300 of the 23rd Decem­
ber. An assuranco to this effoct has already boen given to
Kuwait, vide the letter to Shaikh'Mubarak published as No.XLll
page 265 Aitbhoson's Volumo 11,
5. What I should like to do is to address a letter to the
Shaikh something in the following terrasi
"I have been authorised to inform Your Highness that on
the basis of existing treaties and engagements, His
Majesty's Government regard your State as being under
their protection which means that they accept responsi­
bility to protect your State against any external aggres­
sion to the best of their ability. They also regard
your subjects as British protected persons and will pro­
tect their lntorosta in foreign countries to the sume
extent as they do those of their own subjects".
6. I do not know to what extent it would be obligatory on
His Majesty's Government to publish a document of this nature
which only in effect explains the existing position and con­
cedes nothing new, but if it is necessury to publish it, I
am of the opinion that we should bo prepared to face any
criticisms that may be made. I feel that we have more to
gain by boldly supporting our friends than by endeavouring
to forestall the mallco of those who seek every opportunity
to find fault with us.

Aligned) W. K. 11 AY.
B.A.ii, Burrows, Esq. i
Foreign Offlco,
London.

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