PERSIAN MOVE OPPOSED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 8

PERSIAN MOVE OPPOSED

British Attitude On Bahrain

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 13.

The British Government would ! continue to fulfil its obliga--1 tion to safeguard the independence of Bahrain, the oil-rich island claimed by Persia, a Foreign Office spokesman said today. The spokesman was commenting on Teheran reports that the Shah of Persia had asked his Cabinet to introduce legislation making the Persian Gulf island a province of Persia.

The spokesman, reading from a prepared statement at his daily press conference, said: “Bahrain, is, of course, an independent Arab State under British protection. “Iran has often in the past stated a claim to Bahrain on historical grounds, but the British Government have repeatedly made it clear that they consider the Iranian claim to be unfounded.

“Her Majesty’s Government will continue to fulfill their obligations to safeguard the independence of Bahrain,” the spokesman's statement concluded.

The spokesman said Britain had not instructed her Ambassador at Teheran to make a protest or representations to the Persian Government. The British Government had repeatedly made it clear what its views were on the subject and would “continue to do so as appropriate,” he added. Bahrain has been under British protection since 1861. Persian sovereignty has not been exercised over Bahrain since 1783, when the Persians were expelled by the ancestors of the present ruling house.