Page 337 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

Turkish interests and Persian claims, 1906-1909 327

{This Document is the Proporty of His Britannic Mojoaty's Govorrim5ntQ
PERSIA. 0r\yt, [October 29.]
c
CONFIDENTIAL. Section 24.

rao24G] No. I, '

Mr. E. Grant Duff to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received October 29.)
(No. 2X7 ) / <//- )
Sir, A Tehran, September 20, 1906.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 51 of tho 27th February la6t, I have the
honour to transmit horowith a translation of a noto from tho Persian Government on
tho subject of tho sovereignty over the Island of Bahrein claimed by Ilis Majesty tho
Shah. Tho Grand Vizier montiono in tho inclosed noto an Agreement made in 1822
botwoon His Majesty’s Government and tho Persian Government, in which tho formor
rooognizo the Islaud of Bahrain as a dependency of tho Provinco of Furs. I presume
his Highness rotors to tho Agreement mudo in that, year by tho British Resident at
Bushiro and disowned by His Majesty’s Government.
As I informed tho Persian Government, under tho instructions contained in your (JU fop
telegram No. 28 of tho 9th February last, that His Majesty’s Government decline to
ontorlniu any further representations on tho subject of tho Persian claim to sovereignty
ovor Bahrain, I have returned no reply to the Grand Vizier’s communication.
Thoro are a few outstanding claims at Bushiro in which Bahrainis aro interested,
and I have been for tho last year trying to scttlo these cases amicably with the
Porsinn Govornmont. If it should he impossible to obtain justico for tho parties
concornod the dotails of those claims will bo brought to your notice in duo course,
according to your instructions (soo your tologrnm No. 28 of tho 0th Fobruary last). 'ifa'P'b)
I have, &o.
(Signod) EVELYN GRANT DUFF.

lnclosurc in No. I.
Grand Vizier to Mr. E. Grant Du]f.
(Translation.) September 13, 1906.
I HAVE received and submitted to llis Imperial Majesty tho Shah your undated
lettor [19th February last] respecting Bahrein.
I have now the honour to state that, in view of tho former proceedings, and also
in viow of tho friendship existing between tho two Governments, I did not expect to
sco tho two following paragraphs iu your noto:—
1. “ His Majesty’s Government hnvo never admitted tho ownership or soYoroiguty
of Persia ovor Bahrain, and such a claim is, in thoir opinion, entirely inadmissible.”
2. His Majesty’s Government consider tho Island of Bahrain and its inhabitants
to bo under British protection.”
Not to speak of the fact that the spirit of tho Treaties explains and demonstrates
tho rights of tho Persian Govornmont over tho island in question, such nu nnswor 1ms
nover boon put forward in tho correspondence on tho subject which has passed
between tho high officials of tho tw<? Governments in London and Tehran,, and
apparently it is tho first timo that such an nnswor bus been given by tho British
Legation.
To rofrain from giving, a long and detailed reply to this statement, I contont
myself on this occasion with a rofcrouco to a distiuob Agroomont made botweon tho
high officials or tho two Govornmouts on tho 30th August, 1822, and signed by
Sir William Bruce, tho Special Commissioner of the British Govornment. In the
Agreomont in question the decision about tho caso was as follows :—
ail ‘#^ho island of Bahrain has always been a dopondonoy of Fars. Tho Baui
Attabch mhabitants of tho island disobeyed tho orders of tho Fars authorities aud

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