Page 84 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

386 Records of Bahrain
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In 1842 a rival appeared in the form of one Mohammed bin Khalifeh, a grand*
nephew of Shaikh Abdullah. The Wahabis, who were once again in power, sup­
ported the young claimant and Isa bin Tarif of Qatar and Bashir bin Rahman
an Utb chief of the Jatahimat section asked permission of the ltcsidont to join
themselves with Shaikh Mohammed. This sanction was given, and in April, 1843,
Bahrain passed into the possession of Shaikh Mohammed.
28. In 1843 the Government of India issued orders that an invasion of Bahrain
by the cx-Shaikh Abdullah would be prevented if necessary by a British Naval
force.
In 1847, however, Shaikh Mohammed bound himself to pay tribute to the
Walmbis at the rate of $2,000 per annum.
29. In the same year, 1847, Turkish claims to Bahrain were advanced from
Basrah. apparently for the first time. The Shaikh was invited to declare his alle­
giance to tlic Sultan, and to submit a detailed list of his shipping, in order that it
might be registered under the Turkish (lag.
For various reasons the Shaikh was disposed to accept this advance on the
part of the Turkish Government.
30. This caused the Bombay Government to state that it was obviously
desirable to exclude interference by Foreign Powers in the affairs of the Persian
Gulf, inasmuch as without retaining supreme authority the British Government
could not hope to secure the performance of the objects which they had attained
in that quarter at a large expense.
The Board of Directors concurred in their recommendation that “ any attempts
upon Bahrain ought to be resisted by the British Naval force.” The Resident,
Major Hcnncll was authorised to ascertain whether the Shaikh was inclined to enter
into a closer connection with the British power, and some months later Shaikh
Mohammea expressed a wish that his Shaikhdom should be taken under British
protection, but n 1849 the Resident was directed to dcclincthc proposal of the
Shaikh, but to assure him of the continuance of the goodwill and friendship of the
British Government.
In 1850 the Shaikh was on bad terms with us, and sent insulting messages
to the Resident.
31. In 1851 the Shaikh was on the point of succumbing to the Wahabis, when
a British Squadron arriving took the Islands under their wing.
In the same year a claim by the Porte to the sovereignty over Bahrain was
summarily rejected by the British Government.
32. In 1853 the British Government authorised the Government of Bombay
to offer every obstacle to an attack upon these Islands by the Wahabi Amir, who
was now nominally subject to the Ottoman Kmpirc, on the ground that Her Ma­
jesty’s Government would not permit the occupation of Bahrain by the Turkish
Government or by anyone acting for them or in their interest.
In 1859 the Persian Gulf Squadron was again despatched for the protection
of the Islands and the Wahabi Governor sued for pardon.
33. In 1859 Shaikh Mohammed made simultaneous application for protec­
tion to the Persian Governor of Fars, and to the Turkish Wali of Baghdad.
The response of the Turks was delayed but a Persian agent, one Mirza Mchdi
Khan, a well known Anglophobc, almost immediately arrived in Bahrain, the Pei-
sian flag was hoisted and Persian sovereignty proclaimed. Scarcely, howover.
had these ceremonies been performed when Mohammed Bey, the emissary of tn°
Mustafa, Nun Pasha appeared, the Persian flag was again lowered, and the lurkis i
Hag raised into its place—to complete the absurdity the Persian agent refused to
leave Bahrain or surrender his imaginary authority.
!
34. Sir Henry Rawlinson, the British Minister in Tehran differed from Captain
Felix Jones, the Resident, and regarded the matters as of slight account. •» ®
contented Innsclf with obtaining from the Shah’s Minister an assurance that m
military occupation of Bahrain should he undertaken by Persia until the questioi
of title had been settled by diplomatic discussion.
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