Page 44 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

38

island for over fifty years; for nearly a- century
the safety of the pearl industry, of which Bahrein
is the centre, has been assured by British ships;
and British Consular protection has been regularly
afforded to Bahreineso in Turkey and in Persia.
It would now seem to ho mutter for serious
consideration whether the time has not arrived
to regularize the position at Bahrein by a more
definite assertion of British predominance. The
Government of India, in their despatch already
quoted (see page 35), havo set. forth the argu­
ments in favour of tho exercise of jurisdiction Jurisdiction over Foreigners.
over foreigners, and the advantages of adopting
such a course before foreign interests have so
largoly developed ns to render the assumption of
the legal duties of a Protecting Power a matter
of greater intricacy and difficulty.
The question arises whether it would not he
more practicable and be loss likely to ovoke
hostile comment if the assumption of these duties
(which would probably necessitate a notification
to foreign Powers) were accompanied by various
administrative reforms, which, earned out under Administrative Reforms.
British control, would couduco to tho general
prosperity of commerce, check the traffic in arms
which now exists, and gradually place the
revenuo of the Sheikh upon a more stable footing.
That such reforms aro desirable has been
recognized by the Government, of India in earlier
despatches ; unfortunately, though steps in tho
right direction have been taken, no substantial
improvement has been effected since the native
Agent was succeeded by a British Agent in 1‘JOO.
Wriiing in this year, Mr. Zwemer, an American
missionary resident at Bahrein, asserted that:—
“ Oppression, blackmail, and bribery are
universal, and except in commorce and the
Slave Trade, English protection has brought
about no reforms in the island. To be ‘ pro­
tected * means here strict neutrality os to the
iuternal affairs, and absolute dictation os to
affairs with other Governments.”
It is much to be regretted that the negotia­
tions for the control of the customs proved Customs Control.
abortive, and, in view of the increasing im­
portance of Bahrein, it is worth while con­
sidering whether the Sheikh should not bo
offered a large subsidy in return for the
customs, which, under British control, would,
no doubt, give a far larger yield. It is
eminently desirable in tho interests of the
island that tho finances should bo reformed, Financial Reform.

i