Page 51 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

38

Uns n°te were circulated to all members of the League of Nations at the request
oT the Persian Government. In 1935 His Majesty’s Minister at Teheran handed
the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs a note announcing the decision to move
the Royal Navy’s base from Henjam and Basida to Bahrain. In his reply the
Foreign Minister referred to Persian rights at Bahrain, but stated that he did not
wish to embark on a discussion of the subject. At the same time he indicated that
his Goverment might recognise the independence of Bahrain in return for
concessions by His Majesty’s Government in other matters. In 1938 the Persian
Government made vigorous oral protests to His Majesty’s Minister about the
alleged ill-treatment of Persians in Bahrain. His Majesty’s Minister remarked
that the fact that diplomatic action was taken amounted in practice to de facto
admission of His Majesty’s Government’s position in Bahrain. The question
remained dormant during the war, but was ventilated in the Persian press as soon
as the war was over and in April 1946 the Persian Government issued a decree
that all petroleum products imported from Bahrain should be subject to the same
dues and royalties as those levied on Anglo-Iranian Oil Company products.
83. In 1947 the Persians confiscated the passport of a Bahraini at
Khurramshahr and resumed the practice, which they still follow, of treating all
letters received in Persia with Bahrain stamps as unstamped.(M9) No protest was
made. In the same year an attempt was made to enlist American sympathy in
support of the Persian claim.(13°)
84. At the end of 1947 and during 1948 the Persian claim to Bahrain was
frequently ventilated in the Majlis at Teheran. It figured in a resolution passed
by the Majlis in October 1947 and in public statements including a broadcast by
the Persian Prime Minister later in the year.C5') In January 1948 a Bahrani youth
from Bahrain called Abdullah Zirah appeared in Teheran and assured the members
of the Majlis of the keen desire of the inhabitants of Bahrain for union with
Persia.P”) He also urged the adoption of a variety of measures to help the Bahrainis
to realise their aspirations. This led to increased propaganda and it was alleged
amongst other things that in order to embarrass the American Oil Companies and
thereby the United States Government His Majesty’s Government would not
contest the Persian claim and that they would allow Persian troops to reoccupy
Bahrain.(I43) A broadcast about the claim from the Near East broadcasting station
at Haifa greatly annoyed the Ruler of Bahrain,(,44) who was induced by the Persian
propaganda to request a written assurance that His Majesty’s Government would
support him against the Persian claim and against external aggression generallyC44)
(paragaph 5 above). In April a Bill was tabled in the Majlis calling upon the Persian
Government to take immediate steps to establish its authority over Bahrain.(l4‘)
Shortly afterwards the Persian Foreign Minister was warned that His Majesty’s
Government would regard any attempt by the Persian Government to reopen this
question as a gratuitous attack and that they had not the slightest intention of
modifying their attitude.(147) About the same time the Persian Government notified
the International Telecommunications Union at Berne that as Bahrain was an
integral part of Persia they did not recognise the concession granted by the Ruler
to Cable and Wireless Limited(13a) (paragraph 139 below). Later in the year
unsigned notes were received from the Persian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
protesting against alleged reference to Bahrain as a British possession by a United
Kingdom delegate at an international wheat conference and the admission into
Bahrain of refugees from Pakistan without regard to Persian immigration
regulations. Both these protests were embodied in a further note(li*) to which a
reply was sent that His Majesty’s Government did not recognise any Persian claim
over Bahrain. This elicited another statement of the Persian claim and refusal to
recognise His Majesty’s Government’s treaties with Bahrain. The policy agreed
to at this time and communicated to the United States Government, who
(«<•) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 87 of March 18. 1947 (E 2655/2655/34 of 1947).
(,4°) F.O. to Teheran E10393/10393/91 of November 7, 1947.
(,SI) Tel. from Teheran to F.O. 1259 of December 6, 1947 (E 11549/40/34 of 1947).
('•*) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 17 of January 21. 1948 (E 1197/327/91 of 1948).
(••>) Tel. from Teheran to F.O. 28 of January 28. 1948 (E 1286/327/91 of 1948).
(>“) Tel. from P.R. toC.R.O. 94 of January 23. 1948 (E 1346/327/91 of 1948).
(“•) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 300 of December 23. 1948 (E 16227/327/91 of 1948).
(*»•) Tel. from Teheran to F.O. 311 of April 17. 1948 (E 4795/327/91 of 1948).
(“') Tel. from Teheran to F.O. 342 of April 27. 1948 (E 5364/327/91 of 1948).
('”) G.P.O. to F.O. 63853/42/21 of July 2. 1948 (W 4170/956/801 of 1948).
(«»•) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 271 of August 9. 1948 (E 10878/327/91 of 1948).