Page 343 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

Turkish interests and Persian claims, 1906-1909 333

Translation.
Sir:C. Spring Rico to Grand Vizier 23rd February
1907.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt

of Your Highness'a note of the . 5th instant on the

subject of the status of the island of Bahrein.

I note with surprise that Your Highness states

that the Persian Government know nothing of the

abrogation of the agreement of 1822 between Captain

Bruce and the Firman Fima of Fare and consider It

binding.

A6 you are of course aware no engagement be­

tween nations is binding until it has been formally

ratified by the proper authorities.

According to tho information in my possession,

and which is doubtless also to be found in the ar­

chives of the Persian Foreign Office, not only was

the Treaty disavowed by the proper representatives

of His Britannic Majesty's Government but His Ma- •

jesty tho Shah refused to recognize its stipulations

and' expressed hie displeasure that the Prince of

Shiraz should have entered into any engagements with

tho British Government without hi6 knowledge or

instructions.