Page 25 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 351

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cncc would continue to be paramount in the Persian
Gulf, and that Persia could never exercise the
authority which she ought to have in that sea
unless she possessed some kind of naval establish­
ment of her own ; and he strongly urged upon the
Shah’s Ministers the expediency of making imme­
diate arrangements, either by direct purchase or by
application (o one of the European Powers, with a
view to the formation of a Persian flotilla in the
Gulf as a means of making good the Shah’s claim
to Sovereignty over Bahrein ; of resisting the pro-
tensions of the Imaum of Muscat at Bunder Abbas
and elsewhere on the Persian coast; and of coercing
the Arab Chiefs on the shores of the Gulf.
General Molisin Khan The Persian Chargd d’Affaircs in London also
January 22, 1870.
made a formal complaint against Colonel Polly’s
proceedings; and the opinion of Lord Clarendon
upon that ofliccr’s proceedings at Bahrein may he
gathered from the following minutes.
On the docket of one of the letters his Lordship
wrote, “ I wish to know who authorized Colonel
India Office, January 29, 1870. Polly’s recent high-handed proceedings in the Per­
sian Gulf;” on another he wrote, “The service
Admiralty, January 25, 1870.
was no doubt well performed ; hut, query our right
or duty to act as Colonel Pclly has done ; ” and on
a third, " I trust that full explanations will he eiven
India Office, February 21. 1870. *»f.............. *■ ■ ■ u,*v
of the proceedings of Colonel Pclly, against whicli
Persian Government seem to have just reason for
complaint.”
Full reports were applied for and received from
To India Office, January 25, 1870
Admiralty, February 1, 1870. the Admiralty and Indian Government respecting
India Office, February 1, 1870.
Colonel Polly’s proceedings, and from these, if.
appeared that the sole object the British authorities
had in view was the punishment of the Arab Chiefs
at Bahrein for breaking the maritime truce and
insulting the English flag, and the suppression of
piracy. But, instead of tho Persian Agent having
been insulted, it appeared that he did not go himself
. -. to Bahrein, hut sent one of his people; and Colonel
,*
Pclly thus explained 1 how that official came to he
detained:— . ...
“On the 19th. November, ;.] 8G9,.a native craft
armed with .guns, &0;, and. flying Arab colours,
endeavoured to1 'britek the' blockade. She was
*■.
visited and proved, to' have pn. board an emissary
• from the Persian coast; asserting himself to be. tho
hearer of certain letters '.confirming the Pirate Chief