Page 91 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

The re-opening of the Persian claim, 1885-1888 417

No. Ill, dated Telicrnn, tin: 1st December 1880.
prom—Nicouon, Esq., Her Majesty’* Churgd d'Affaires at Toheran,
To—The Earl or Ihuk.si.eioii, U.C.H., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As the Persian Government have not reiterated their desire to establish
their authority over Bahrain, I hnvo not thought it necessary to communicate
the views of Her Majesty’s Government on the subject as stated in Your
lordship's telegram No 58 ol* the 8th October.
I have privately asked Her Majesty’s Resident at Bushiro to lot me
know if lie hears of any attempt, direct, or indirect, on the part of the Persian,
authorities to execute their wishes in regard to the island, and should any
such measures be reported, or should the Persian Government again refer to
the matter, I would at onco communicate Your Lordship’s message, but in the
meantime I trust Your Lordship will not object to my allowing tho subject
to drop, as I have reason to believe that it was merely a sudden caprice of
the Shah instigated from foreign quarters, and of which it would not be
advisable to remind IIis Majesty unnecessarily.
(Copies sent to India and India Oilice.)

Enclosure lo loiter from Secretary, Political ami Secret Doparlmcnt, No. 317, dated the 12tU
November 1886.
Extract from Asia Confidential Eo. 308.
No. 4.
No. 114, dated Teheran, tho 27tb September 1880 (Confidential).
From—A. Nicolson, Esq., Her Majest)’* Chnrgd d’Affaire* at Teheran,
To—The Eaki. ok Iduesleioii, G.C.U., Sucretury of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister begged mo to call upon him yesterday with a view
of communicating certain messages from tho Shah. On my arrival, Ilis
Highness said that tho Shah wished to effectually establish his authority over
Bahrain, but beiore taking any steps he desired to consult with Her Majesty’s
Government; that His Majesty considered the letter from the late Lord
Clarendon to the Persian Minister in London in 1809 had recognized his right
of sovereignly ovor tho island; and that too revival of Persian authority in that
quarier would in nowise interfere with the supervision which was exercised by
the British naval forces over the police of the gulf.
His Highness gave no reason for this apparently sudden desire on the
part of the Shah, and was extremely vague as to the mode by which His
Majesty wished to carry out his proposul, presuming thut a Governor would
bo sent there, or that possibly an arrangement might be made with the 8heikh
of-the island, whereby tho latter would act as Persian Representative.
The question as to what view the Sheikh might take of this proposal did
not seem to have been considered at all, nor did llis Highness appear to know
what would occur in the event of any opposition being made to the advent
of a Persian authority, beyond remarking that possibly Englund might feel
disposed to assist in tho assertion of Persian sovereignty.
I told His Highness that tho matter had come as a surprise to me, aud
that being imperfectly acquainted with the history of tho question, I would
expressno opinion; hut would communicate His Majesty’s message to Your
Lordship in the 6enso in which it had been delivered to mo. I enquired
whether the Shah had bccu deliberating ou the mutter for any length of time,
and was informed that such was tho case.
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