Page 42 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

80
speaking, however, he has no legal authority for
undertaking these latter duties.
" With a view to defino and regularize the
powers exorcized over British subjects by the
Agent, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
has put forward tho suggestion that ho should bo
appointed to bo a Justice of the Pcaco and
endowed with the powers of a District Judgo in
direct subordination to tho High Court of
Bombay. We concur in this recoiumondation,
hut, with reference to clause 2 of ‘ Tho Indian
Foreign Jurisdiction Order in Council, 1902/ wo
undorstand that it would first bo necessary for
Bahrein to be declared by His Majesty in Council
to Ijo a territory in which jurisdiction is exorcised
hy, or on behalf of, IIis Majesty through the
Governor-General in Council. Wo would ac­
cordingly request that, if His Majesty’s Govern­
ment see no objection, tho necessary Order in
Council may be parsed providing for tho exorcise
of jurisdiction in Bahrein.
“ But further, in view of tho increase of foreign
shipping and foreign interest generally in the
Gulf, and of tho establishment of foreign firms
and missions in Bahrein, which has already
caused practical difTicullics, it scorns desirable
that, if possible, in maintenance of tho slulus quo
in tho Gulf, provision should be made in tho
Order in Council for tho exercise by the Political
Agent of jurisdiction over foreigners in Bahrein,
before foreign interests havo so largely developed
as to render the assumption of the legal duties of
a Protecting Power a matter of greater intricacy
and difficulty involving perhaps, as in the case of
Zanzibar, diplomatic representations to forcigu
Powers. Bahrein has been uuder sole British
domination sinco 1820, and on several occasions
wo havo had to interfere by armed force, cither
to prevent the Chiof of Bahrein from ntt: eking
his neighbours, or them from attacking him, or
to settle matters relating to the Chiefship. In
1880, by a Treaty published for public infor­
mation, the Sheikh bound himself to abstain from
making Treaties of any sort with any State or
Government other than the British, and to
refuse to permit other Powors to establish
Diplomatic or Consular Agencies or coaling
depots without tho consent of the British Govern­
ment. This Treaty in itself constituted a sort of
protectorate, which has perhaps been riponed into
maturity by the open and regular exercise of