Page 108 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

410 Records of Bahrain
3
state that it would appear that any weakness which, ns far as the position of Great
Britain is concerned, may lie iu the statement of Lord Clarendon in 18G9, would bo
met by the admission of the fact that at that dale we made no sj)ccinl claim to the
protection of Bahrein. Indeed, iu the treaty of 1801, we refer to the independent
ruler of Bahrein.
In 18G9 we were, like Persia, interested in the safety of the Persian Gulf for
commerce, and would gladly have accepted Persian co-operation in maintaining order
had her naval position admitted of it.
Our special position arose out of our continued policing of the Persiau Gulf
against piracy and our general assistance to Bahrein wnich culminated in our treaty
with the sheikh in 18S0, from which year may be said to date the suggestion of
j " protection,” since we accepted the control of his foreign relations. The 1892
treaty was an extension of that of 1880.
This explains our position cis-a-vit Persia, but does not touch the position of
Bahrein rij-a-ciF Persia, which is not affected by nny statement we may or may not
have made prior to our acceptance of the control of her foreign relations in 1880.
But we have, since 1822, when we disavowed to the Government of Fare the action
of Captain Bruce, informed the Persian Government of our belief in the independence
of Bahrein from Persian control.
Copies of this despatch are being 6cnt to Ilis Majesty’s Secretary of State for f r #
the Colonics, London, and His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran. ^ '
I have, &c. t m C*
L. HAWORTH.

•.» i

i

: