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358 Records of Bahrain

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CONFIDENTIAL. Skotion 3,

I
[19092] No. 1.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Qrcy.—(Received June 9.)
(No. 126.) *Q*rjl*)
Sir, Tehran, May 21, 1908.
WITH rcfcronco to my despatch No. 101 of tho 24th April on tho question of tho
recognition by tho Persian Government of our right to afford protection to subjects of
Bahrein in this country, I havo tho honour to report that I have constantly urgod tho
Minister for Foreign Affairs to sond mo an nmonded note iu placo of that which ho
addressed to mo on tho 9th April. His Excolloncy, however, pleads for more time to
oxarainc tho matter from tho historical point of viow, and in consequonco of tho recurrent
Ministerial crises of tho past month ho has not boon ablo to prepare his ease. Tho
general tono of his conversation, however, has not led mo hitherto to expect Chat tho
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: uownoto, when it does reach me, will bo satisfactory; it is more likely that it will bo an
attempt to justify Persian claims over tho islands, based chiefly on tho repudiated
Treaty of 1822. Whoa I saw him on tho 18th instant, X again brought tho question
up, and said that I believed llis Majesty’s Government would bo perfectly satisfied with a
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noto simply stating that general instructions had bot'ii given to tho local Persian
authorities to accept tho representations of tho British Consular officers on behalf of
Bahreinis, and I elicited the tacit admission from his Excellency that his researches in
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i: tho archives of tho Foreign Office had been practically fruitless, and that ho had boon
ablo to find no traco of any ratification of tho abortive Treaty of 1822. Iiis Excolloncy
at last admitted that his disinclination to comply with our demand tiroso roally from fear
of what might bo said of him in the Assembly, whose patriotic susceptibilities would bo
outraged. I told his Excelleucy that I thought ho would havo a perfectly good reply
to any such criticisms by quoting the case of tho Persians who found thomsolvcs iu
difficulties in Bahrein in November 1904, whon tho Persian Government had been
forced to apply to us for assistance. His Excellency protended to acquiosco, but I am /
convincod that without somo material pressure, or at least tho threat of it, which I Hi J
understand from your telegram No. TOO of tho 16th May His Majesty’s Govornmout is
not at present disposed to employ, tho Minister will contrive to avoid giving a satisfactory
answer. It is unfortunato that circumstances should mako it necessary for His
Majesty’s Government to adopt this attitude, for I think that, were I authorized to i
inform Mushir-ed-Dowloh unofficially that His Majesty’s Govornmout had docidcd to /
enforce complianco by material measures, it is more than likely that his Excolloncy / <
would find moans to comply with our demauds and to conceal tho fact of his complianco)
from the Parliament.
i I have, &o.
(Signed) CHARLES M. MARLING.

[1821 i—3]

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