Page 29 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

Persian and Turkish claims to Bahrain, 1870-1874 355

•23
•. Sco p. 18. Government in T861," that Bahrein wnk indepen­
dent.
” The Indian1 Government, therefore, looking at
the following facts, namely, that' the Sheikhs of
Bahrein had, at different periods offered their
allegiance not only to*Persia, but equally to Great
Britain, Muscat, Turkey, and the Wahabccs; that
Her Majesty’s Government had Treaty engagements
with the Sheikhs of the Gulf as independent rulers ;
and that, moreover, Persia had no Navy, and would,
therefore, he unable to repress Piracy in the Gulf;
were of opinion that any claim of the Shah to the
Sovereignty of Bahrein should be met by a firm
remonstrance on the part of Her Majesty’s Govern­
ment.”
With regard to the second'question treated of in
the despatch from the Indian Government, viz., the
alleged complicity of the Shnb’6 Government in the
acts of the piratical faction in the Gulf, and the
encouragement given thereto by his officers, the
following explanation was offered :—
” It appeared that Ali bin Khalifa, the reigning
Sheikh of Bahrein, had offered his allegiance to
Persia, on which the Shah had sent a Firman,
appointing him his Bepresentative at Bahrein; but
that on his being murdered by his brother Mahomed
bin Khalifa, the name of the latter was substituted
and a messenger dispatched charged with the neces­
sary instructions for nominating him as Governor of
* Mahomed liin KhaVcfali wan the island.* That during the blockade of Bahrein
reported to have been killed by
the Arabs. by Colonel Pclly, of which notice had been given
at Tehran, an Arab vessel had attempted to reach
the island, which proved to have on board Hajee
abd Abu, a special messenger deputed by Mirzn
Mchdcc Khan (an official appointed by the Shah
to superintend the affairs of the Gulf), to convey
letters from himsolf, from the Prince Governor
of Fars, and from' three Arab Chiefs to Mahomed ’
bin Abtloollah, the pirate Chief who had violently
possessed himself, of Bahrein; that the messenger
denied being an agent of the Shah, though it
was evident from Mr. Thomson’s despatch (No. 94,
of llth December, T869),. that the Persian Govern­
ment had acknowledged-that ho was employed by
: them ; that Colonel Polly,-as instructed by telegram
from Bombay, detained '.tho-letters; but, at an
ntcryicw wliioh* he .had'.'shortly' afterwards with.