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ANGLO-AMERICAN RIVALRY
IN BAHRAIN, 1918-1947

Rosemarie Said Zahlan

Grcal power rivalry with Britain for domination of the Gulf was altered significantly by
' outcome of World War I. With the defeat of Germany, the dismemberment of the
toman Empire and the collapse of Czarist Russia, Britain emerged in an uncontcstcd
sition of power and control in the Gulf. At the same time, a new world power was propelled
to the international scene: the United States of America. Although Britain and the USA
ire tested allies, it was not long before competition between them began to be registered. In
is paper, an examination of Anglo-American rivalry in Bahrain will be discussed from the
riod immediately following World War I until the dismemberment of the British Govern-
-nt of India when British policy in the Gulf underwent total change.

There can be little doubt that in 191.8 the Gulf had become, to all intents and purposes, a
'itish lake. All the states on the Arab side, from Oman to Kuwait, had special treaty relations
th Britain which controlled their foreign affairs and a fair amount of their internal affairs as
-II1. Within a short time, Iraq became a British Mandate. And the rich oilfields of southern
an were controlled by the British Government through their majority holding of the
nglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) which was acquired in 1914. Moreover, during the
*20s, a British civil and military air route linking Britain with India was established; it had
nding and refuelling stations at various points on the Arab coast of the Gulf which then
quired even greater importance in strategic considerations.

The United States of America, by contrast, had no territorial or imperial claims in either
e Gulf or the rest of the Arab world at this time. Its interests were confined to the activities
id establishments of the different protestant missionary groups which had been active since
e nineteenth century. In the Gulf, the American missionaries of the Dutch Reformed
hurch provided the only medical services in the region despite Britain’s long tenure of power
iere2. They had set up hospitals in Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Amarah and Basra. They also
omoted education.

It is perhaps difficult today to try to recreate the enthusiasm evoked by the United States
roughout the Arab world in the years following World War I. After the broken promises
ade by Britain and France to the Arabs were revealed, and after the contents of the
'kes-Picot agreements were made known, together with the main principles of the Balfour
eclaration, the disillusionment of the Arab world found its only glimmer of hope in the
lunciation by Wilson of his famous Fourteen points. The American policy of self-
:termination uttered so soon after the end of the war fired the imagination and aspiration of
any. Knowledge of the Fourteen Points was widespread. In Bahrain, the British Political
gent was annoyed and disturbed whenever members of the Al-Khalifah reminded him of the
>licy of self-determination and that it applied to Bahrain.

Anglo-American rivalry for influence or gain in the Gulf did not, then, exist in 1918. The
merican missionaries, whose main objective in the Gulf was the futile task of spreading
iristianity,3 were on friendly personal relations with the few Britons living there. Moreover,
places like Bahrain, they also acted as medical attendants to the Political Agency itself.4 A
rther sign of their good relations was a donation made by the Political Resident in the Gulf

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