Page 53 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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raised again in the Majlis six months later. In 1951 the Persian Government
protested to the United Nations and to all foreign Stales where they were
represented at the extension of the International Convention in Motor Traffic of
1926 to BahrainC70). The facts were explained to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations and the Persian claim emphatically denied^'71) They also
complained to the Government of India because their Charge d’AfTaires in Bagdad
visited Bahrain instead of a representative from their Embassy in Teheran.
88. In April 1952 the Persians protested about Sir Eric Beckett’s visit to
Bahrain(172) (paragraph 22 above). A reply was sent refusing to accept the protest.
The Persians wrote further to the effect that Her Majesty’s Government in the past
had frequently acknowledged their sovereignty over Bahrain and a reply was sent
emphatically denying this. About the same time the Persians protested to the
Iraqi Government about a visit paid by the Iraqi Regent and Prime Minister to
Bahrain and an alleged proposal to open an Iraqi Consulate there,(,;') and wrote to
the United States Embassy advising them with reference to proposed flights by
Jibouti Air Lines calling at Zahidan and Bahrain that the aeroplanes were not
entitled to transport passengers, cargo and mail between the two places as they were
both integral parts of Persia.(m) Copies of all the Persian Government’s notes
referred to above together with the replies sent to those addressed to Her Majesty’s
Legation in Teheran were forwarded to the United Nations and circulated to the
members. The Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations also
wrote to the Secretary-General to the effect that Her Majesty’s Government wished
to make it clear that they did not accept the statement contained in the note to the
United States Embassy about Jibouti Air Lines that Bahrain formed an integral
part of Persia.(,74) In 1953 the Persian Consul-General at Geneva raised with the
Secretary-General of the League of Red Cross Societies the question of the British
Red Cross Society’s intervention in BahrainC76) (paragraph 147 below), and the
head of the Persian Delegation to the World Health Organisation at Geneva
protested violently regarding a proposal that the Organisation’s aid for Bahrain
(paragraph 147 below) should be placed under British supervision.^77)
89. According to the 1950 census there were 6,934 Persian subjects residing
in Bahrain, but the number of actual Persians is greatly in excess of this as many of
them have become Bahrain subjects. In 1948 the Financial Adviser intimated that
there were about 20,000 Persians in Bahrain^17*) He reported that the Sunnis
amongst them, who are the wealthier and more important part of the community,
were not sympathetic to the Persian claim but that many of the Shiahs undoubtedly
supported it. They do not however advertise their sympathy and are generally
speaking well-behaved. The present Ruler and his father before him have never
persecuted the Persians, which may have been in part due to the fact that until 1953
they were under British jurisdiction, but have been alarmed at their large numbers
and have enacted legislation to prevent them acquiring property unless they became
Bahrain subjects (paragraph 23 above) and to limit further immigration. In 1952
the Ruler refused to allow any more Persians to become Bahrain subjects. In 1951
just when the trouble at Abadan was starting five Persian naval cadets arrived at
Bahrain for training in one of His Majesty’s ships. The Ruler protested strongly
and the cadets were at once removed from Bahrain.
90. There is continuous trade across the Gulf between Bahrain and Persia,
most of it illicit so far as the latter country is concerned. Bahrain is almost entirely
dependent on Persia at present for the supply of meat, which is imported on the
hoof, and has in the past been allowed a quota of sugar above her normal
requirements to give in exchange for this and other imports. Bahrain vessels are
sometimes interfered with by the Persian authorities while engaged in trade on the
Persian coast and two motor dhows were seized by them at the end of 1952. Usually
the Persian officials are bribed to connive at the continual smuggling which goes on.
/.r.x n K Del. to the U.N. to F.O. 16033/6/51 P of July 26. 1951 (EA 1081/46 of 1951).
/.m (jV Del. to the F.O. 10363/9/51 P of August 31. 1951 (EA 1081/54 of 1951).
r,,a! Teheran to F.O. Despatch 105 of April 21, 1952 (EA 1083/6 of 1952).
f.r.x Teheran to F.O. Despatch 146 of May 12, 1952 (EA 1083/16 of 1952).
n k Del to U.N. 10633/ 12/52 P of June 2, 1952 (EA 1083/28 of 1952).
/.»»{ mV Del. to U.N. 10633/30/52 P of July 12. 1952 (EA 1083/36 of 1952).
British Red Cross Society to F.O. U.n. of June 5 (EA 1721/3 of 1953).
P”) American Emb.. London, to F.O. U.n. of June 22. 1953 (EA 1799/1 of 1953).
(.».) c.R.O. to F.O. Ext. 902/48 (E 4299/327/91 of 1948)