Page 235 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

IRAN’S CLAIM TO BAHRAIN 173
sarics. In order to give them their share of flattery and to demonstrate
allegiance, he pulled down the Persian flag from the main port and
hoisted the Turkish flag in its place.
It can be adduced from the Shaikh’s behaviour that he was by no
means sincere in his allegiance either to Persia or Turkey. He was,
according to the British Resident of that time, Captain Felix Jones,
‘playing fast and loose with all parties’ for his own ends.1 In support of
the above assessment of the Shaikh’s behaviour the following evidence
may be given.
First, in a dispatch to the Foreign Secretary, the British Charge
d’Affaires at Tehran spoke of the Shaikh’s attitude towards the
Persian mission thus:
It is apparent. . . that the chief of Bahrein is not sincere ... in his
profession ofloyalty to the Persian Government. He speaks of their flag with
contempt; declares himself to be on the side of the strongest; and is pre­
pared under certain contingencies to admit the sovereignty of Turkey.2
Secondly, the British agent at Bahrain reported to the British
Resident at Bushire that the Shaikh said to the Turkish envoys:

I have given them (the Persians) no binding promises. If they can do
what I desire I shall be on their side, otherwise, they have nothing to do
with me, and, as to their flag, a slave can have it down.3
The British views about the Persian and the Turkish missions to
Bahrain were, explained at the time by Sir Henry Rawlinson, then
British Minister at Tehran, who analysed the position in Bahrain as
follows:
It seems to have been the normal conditions of Bahrein for some years
past that three rival authorities, the Pasha of Baghdad, the Wahhabi Amir
and the Prince Governor of Fars, should lay claim to the allegiance of the
island and endeavour either by intimidation or intrigue to supersede the
independence of the Sheikh.
He then proceeded to point out the line of policy which should be
applied to the situation. He said:
Hostilities against Bahrain from any quarter are to be repelled by us by
force of arms, whilst the voluntary tender of the Sheikh’s allegiance to any
Power, as long as it is not followed by military occupation, is to be ignored
as of no practical importance.4

1 F.O. 60/249. Felix Jones to Sir Henry Rawlinson, 17 April 1860.
2 F.O. 60/249. Captain Lewis Pelly to Lord Russell, 23 May 1860.
3 Ibid., translated purports of two letters from Hajee Jasem, British Agent at
Bahrain to Felix Jones dated 23 and 25 April 1860.
4 F.O. 60/249. Sir Henry Rawlinson to Captain Felix Jones, 4 May 1860.