Page 27 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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British interests and influence, 1898-1904

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. i< NOV GJ
No. 194 of 1890.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.

SECRET.
External.

TO
The Right Hon’ble LORD GEORGE E. HAMILTON,
Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India,

Simla, the 27th October ISOS.

My Lord,
Tho Sheikh of Bahroin has expressed* a dcsiro that tho British
Government should rccogniso his oldest
* Kncloiurca Noi. 1 and 2.
son, Shoikh named, as successor designate
to tho Ohiofship. Lioutonaut-Colonel Moado is of opinion that it is dosirablo
to take a moro dccidod position in respect to Bahroin: lie rccommonds that
wo should accedo to tho Sheikh’s request, and that advantage should bo taken
of tho opportunity to socuro control-of tho customs of Bahrein and to appoint,
as our representative in tho island, a Political Oflicor of higher rank than our
presont Ageut.
2. Tho Cliiof of Bahroin is bouud, under tho torms of tho Agreomont
Vide A itcluion'a Treaties, &c.(3rd Edition), Vol. X, signed On tho 22lld DcCOinbcr 1880, * to
pnges 120*121. abstain from ontoring into negotiations
or making treaties of any sort with any Stato or Government other than tho
British without tho consont of tho said British Government, and to rofuso permis­
sion to any otlior Govornmont than tho British to establish diplomatic or consular
agoncics or coaling dopGts * in his territory, without similar consont. Tho
t /aw; pgoi ii8.no. Convention of tiie 3i.t Chief is also ontitlcd, undor cortain cir-
hlny 180K cumstanccs,t to British support for tho
maintonanco of tho soourity of his possessions, aud British subjects of ovory
denomination may rcsido and carry on lawful trade in Bahroin territories.
3. Under theso ciroumstancos, it does not appear to us that our position
in respect to Bahroin stands in need of revision; whilo it is a maxim of gcnoral
policy to avoid interference in tho intornal affairs of a Chiofship and
particularly in dynastic disputos. Tho weakness of tho present Sheikh’s rulo has,
t Sco (lcupnlcli from tlio Government of India, llOWOYOr, givoil l’isoj ill tllO past to iutrigUOS
No. ioi, dated ti.o 23rd October 1874. for tho restoration of tho oxiled branch
of his family; ho has four sons; and, if tho succession romains undooided,
thoro may bo risk of disturbances, on tlio Shoikh’s doatli, which would bo detri-