January 2016 55 www.bahrainthismonth.com britishanniversary As Bahrain and Britain prepare to celebrate 200 years of trade, commerce and friendship, BTM looks back at the forging of this strong bond, which has not always been so cordial. Bilateral relations between Bahrain and its UK ally date back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Britain was the dominant overseas power in the Gulf region and was attempting to end piracy in the neighbouring maritime trading routes. The House of Khalifa supported Britain and by 1816 there was already a British Political Resident in the Kingdom who made an unofficial agreement with Bahrain’s rulers to stay neutral in its war against Oman. In 1820 Britain signed the General Maritime Treaty with Gulf tribal leaders, thereby recognising the Al Khalifas as Bahrain’s legitimate rulers and in the following years helping to prevent another war with Oman. In 1861 Bahrain’s ruler signed a Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship with the British, however its terms were sometimes harsh giving the British extensive power. Later treaties in 1880 and 1892 effectively turned Bahrain into a British protectorate which it remained for almost a century. Unrest brewed in 1911 when a group of Bahraini merchants demanded restrictions on the British influence in the country but their leaders were arrested and exiled. In 1923, the British introduced administrative reforms and three years later placed the country under the de facto rule of Charles Belgrave who operated as an adviser to the ruler until 1957. He instituted several innovations such as establishment of the country’s first modern school in 1919, the Gulf’s first girls’ school in 1928 and the abolition of slavery in 1937. At the same time, the pearl diving industry was developing rapidly and trade with Britain was strong. The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal), discovered oil in 1931 and production began the following year. This was to bring rapid modernisation to Bahrain. Relations with the United Kingdom became closer, as evidenced by the British Royal Navy moving its entire Middle Eastern command from Bushehr in Iran to Bahrain in 1935. Immediately after the United Kingdom had declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939, the ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad, sent a telegram to the British King stating: “For nearly a century, the Khalifa shaikhs of Bahrain have been on terms of friendship with the British Government. “Our sympathies in this war which is now being waged against the evil forces of Nazism are with Great Britain. If we possessed an army, we would offer it to the British Government.” He also sent a check of around USD50,000 to help the British war effort. Two months later, the Shaikh of Bahrain said that all Muslims should support the Allies and the local community started a fund for war charities. In November 1940, a fund was established to buy fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force. By 1943, enough had been raised to buy 10 fighter planes and Bahrainis also fought in the war. Following the war, relations continued to be cordial, though there was sporadic unrest and discontent with the level of British influence in the Kingdom until Bahraini independence in 1971. Since then, relations have gone from strength to strength and the island’s government is keen to celebrate the 200 years of friendship. A full year of 200 events to mark the anniversary will kick off at a ceremony aboard a British Naval vessel this month and a website is to be launched giving details of what’s in store. Britain will also be strongly represented at the Bahrain International Airshow with a planned exhibit from the Royal Airforce Museum outlining the Kingdom’s aviation history. A Special Relationship HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and British Prime Minister David Cameron
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