Page 93 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

Regional relations, 1927 395
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until the arrival of the Resident. In the meantime the Persian sufferers had
telegraphed to the Shah and had been informed in reply that the British Govern­
ment would take action on their behalf.
An undesirable incident in which a German was assaulted occurred about
the same timo in which no redress could be obtained.
12. On 21st January 1005 the Viceroy despatched a message to the Secretary
of State from which the following is an extract :
“ Tho incidents reported appear in our opinion to warrant and necessitate
vigorous measures with Shaikh who is only encouraged in his obstinacy by our
continued forbearance.
His obstinate attitude in regard to proposed Customs Reforms was explained
in our despatch of 21st April 1001 and apart from this present ease he has shown
a disposition to ignore the advice of our new Political Agent. The appeals for
our assistance received from subjects of the German and Persian Governments
seem to minimise grounds for any international objection and makes the present
opportunity favourable for proclaiming our protectorate ’. .
13. The Resident, Major Cox, spent four days discussing tho ease of the
Persians, but without result, the Shaikh maintaining that Persians were under his
jurisdiction and that the ease must bo tried by the Bahrain courts.
The status of the Persians as foreigners resident upon an Island under British
protection together with the certainty of justice being perpetrated should the
ease be made over to a Sunni tribunal forbade any concession on this point.
Deadlock ensued and Major Cox left the Island on 10th December to report
the situation to Government. On the 23rd February 1005 he returned to
Bahrain as the bearer of demands authorised by 1 Lis Majesty’s Government
upon Shaikh Isa. lie had been empowered to enforce compliance with the same
by Naval force if necessary and the British Cruiser IT. M. S. “ Fox ” and the gun­
boats II. M. S. “ Redbreast” and II. M. S. " Sphinx ” were assembled in tho har­
bour.
An ultimatum was delivered to the Shaikh from which the following is an
extract of the orders received from Government:—
“ Demands should be prefaced by a reference to the long continued support
accorded to the rulers of Bahrain and to the present Shaikh by the
British Government, who caused the usurper to be expelled, himself
to bo installed and the succession of his son to be recognised.
The Shaikh should be reminded of his assurances to follow the advice of
the Political Resident ”.
14. Government in their memorandum of demands directed the Resident to
state—
“ You have not maintained your friendship towards the British Govern­
ment and have conducted yourself in a manner which cannot be
permitted to continue. In the event of any continuance or rep-
tition of an unfriendly attitude, all support and assistance, whether
diplomatic or military, which you, or your predecessors, have en­
joyed will bo withdrawn from you, and may possibly take another
direction ”.
A warning was conveyed to 1 famad, the heir-apparent, whose attitude through­
out the crisis had been as little satisfactory as his father’s, that the ultimate re­
cognition of his claims by the Government of India would depend upon his future
conduct.
15. In his No. 123, dated 11th March 1005 Major Cox stated that he regard­
ed it as a matter of considerable regret that the exigencies of Imperial politics
did not admit of our making our moral protectorate into an open and effective
one at the present juncture. In a later letter, lie stated that lie based suggestion
he had made on the facts that:—
1. The Prime Minister in a speech had referred to Bahrain as a British
Protectorate,
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