Page 11 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 337

0

intention of attacking and reducing the island, as 1
forming part of Nejd, over which the Viceroy of I
Egypt claimed to be Lord.
It being shortly afterwards reported that the
Sheikh of Bahrein hod entered into an agreement
with Mehemet Ali to pay him the same tribute as
had formerly been paid to the Wahabcc Chief
upon condition that neither the Island of Bahrein
nor his territories on the Coast of Guttur were
to he interfered with in any way by the Pasha,
the British Resident sought an interview with
Mehemet Effendi, the confidential agent of Khos-
shid Pasha, and after remonstrating with him
in strong terms against any attack being made on
the Uttoobec territories, he informed the agent of
the Pasha that the British Government could not
admit any claim of the Pasha upon Bahrein.
On the 24th February, 1840, a letter was addressed
by the Foreign Office to the India Board stating, in
answer to an inquiry, from the Bombay Govern­
ment, that it was important that Mehemet Alts troops
should not be allowed to take possession of Bahrein,
and suggesting that, if the troops of the East India
Company could occupy it even provisionally, such
a measure could not fail to be attended with
advantage-.
Imli.-x llo.ipl Iriiisr of October :>•>. At the close of this year, the British Resident in
IS 10.
the Persian Gulf had an interview with the Imaum
of Muscat, when he inquired what his Highness’s
views were with regard to Bahrein.
'Phe Imaum remurked that "the views which lie
formerly entertained with reference to Bahrein
remained unaltered, but that lie had been restrained
from carrying them into effect by certain considera­
tions, namely, an impression that the British
Government was averse to the prosecution of his
claim upon the Island, and further, his entire con­
viction that, unless assisted either by Mehemet Ali
or Great Britain, it was impossible that any expedi­
tion undertaken- by his own means alone could be
successful.”
Colonel Slicil, No. 86; As the pearl fishery of the Gulf continued to be
Oclobor 18-13. .
greatly interrupted by. the constant feuds between
various Chiefs of the Arabian coa6t, a •* maritime
Hcualci's Treaties, vol. ix, p. G18. truce” was, on the 1st June, 1843, agreed upon
botween them, under the mediation of the British
Resident. The Chiefs of Bahrein still contended
c