Page 349 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat

Relations with the Wahhabis, 1851-1059 705

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ho could pursue his own aims of scif-aggrandizcnicnt and oppression of
British Indian and other traders in the islands of Bahrein, and pursue his forays
against the Wahabi ports. In these attempts he was more than once checked
by the Political Resident towards the close of 1859. About this time he des­
patched a messenger to Baghdad to make an offer of his allegiance to the Porte.
On account of the absence of the Governor General at Baghdad at the time,
there was some delay in accepting this offer, until the arrival of Mustafa Nour!
Pasha, who forthwith despatched Mahomed Beg to ascertain the propriety of
acceding at once to the request of the Chief of Bahrein, and if satisfied on that
point to hoist Turkish flag. Meanwhile the Chief had applied to the Prince
Governor of Fars for the Shah's protection. This application met with immediate
response and Mirza Mehdin a great anglophobc. was deputed to Bahrein to declare
the Persian sovereignty over the islands. The Persian flag was hoisted, when
the TurkishAgent Mahomed Beg arrived. The Persian flag was then hauled
down and in its place was hoisted the Turkish flag. The Persian Agent,
however, refused to leave the place and insisted on exercising the Persian control
• Domb»/ Poiiiltal Depaiimant, Volume 106 A over the islands. (Sec* letter of Officiating
of ,Mo< Political Resident, Mr. Hyslop, No. 66,
dated 6th June i860.)
. 29. When Captain Felix Jones heard of these events, he addressed several
despatches to Sir Henry Rawlinson, in which he took somewhat alarming views
of the proceedings of the Persian Agent. Sir Henry Rawlinson replied to Captain
Jones on 4th May i860 in An interesting despatch, extracts of which are quoted
below:—
41 My impression on reading these letters is that you have attached somewhat more
importance than they merit to Mirza Mchdi's proceedings at Bahrein. It seems to have
been the normal condition of Bahrein for' some years past tiiat three rival authorities,
the Pasha of Baghdad, the Wahabi Amir and the Prince Governor of Fars, should lay claim
to the allegiance of the island, and endeavour cither by intimidation or intrigue to super­
sede the independence of the Sheikh. Hostilities against Bahrein from any quarter are to
be repelled by us by force of arms ; whilst the voluntary tender of the Sheikh's allegiance
to any other power, so long as it is not followed up by military oocupation, is to be ignored
as of no practical importance.
**#####*
I have pointed out to the Shah’s Ministers that the assertion of a right of sovereignty
over Bahrein without the means of realizing that right, or accepting its obligations is sim­
ply ridiculous and may place them in a very awkward and indignified position. The Sheikh,
lor instance, may at any moment tear down the Persian flag and expel the Persian Agent
from the island ; or Turkish influence being at some futuro time in the ascendant he may
make a parade of transferring his allegiance from the Persian to the Ottoman Government,
or the Wahabi Chief may interfere to rescue what has been so long accouutcd as the soil of
Arabia from the Persian dominions.
1 have further pointed out that under no possible circumstances can the British Gov­
ernment be expected to concur in the proposed transfer of the sovereignty of Bahrein to
the Persian Crown, since we have contracted engagements with the Arab Sheikhs 0/ the
island as independent Chiefs, and since the maintenance of their independence is indis•
pensable to the successful working of those plans of maritime policy in the Persian Gulf
which we have been at so much pains and expense to establish.

The Shah's Ministers have been so far moved by these arguments as to have promised
that no attempt shall be made to realize their claims to the sovereignty of Bahrein by a
military occupation of the island and further that orders shall be sent to ^Shiraz to abstain
from any discussions with you on the subject of your relations with the Chief, pending the re­
sult of a reference to England and the further consideration of the general question at this
place ".
30. Captain Lewis Pclly, also wrote to Captain Jones on 6th June i860
stating that the Sheikh of Bahrein had recently applied to the Prince Governor
of Fars for assistance in arms and ammunition and troops, but that the Shahs
Government had given him explicit assurances that no further steps would
he taken in regard to the relations between Persia and Bahrein, until the Shah
was informed by Her Majesty's Government whether they recognized his suzerainty
over Bahrein, and if they did, whether it would be conformable to their policy tha
Persia should assert its authority. Captain Pclly therefore dcprccatcd resistance
of any kind to any attempt on the part of Persia to occupy Bahrein.