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41
CHAPTER VIII.
Administration Report of the Bahrain Agency for the year 193.2.
1. Personnel. —Captain C. G. Prior held charge of the Agency until 28th
November when he was relieved by Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Loch.
2. Khan Bahadur Abdul Haiy al Hashimi held charge of the post of Indian
Assistant throughout the year.
3. Ruler of Bahrain and the al Khalifah Family. —His Excellency Shaikh
Sir Isa bin Ali Al Khalifah, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., fell ill on the 27th February, with,
it is believed, retention of urine. He was found unconscious in the latrine of
his house and was brought round with difficulty by Dr. Dame. The close of
the year saw His Excellency appreciably weaker, and there is little doubt his
end is not far off. (Note.—He died on the 9th December 1932.) His wife, a
lady of exceptional character, who has been his mainstay, is also ill, apparently
with some heart complaint.
4. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah has been on excellent terms with
the Agency throughout ’the year. His grant from the revenues of the State
(and that of all the Al Khalifah, except Shaikh Sir Isa bin Ali Al Khalifah)
was subjected to a 10 per cent, cut throughout the year and since he made little
attempt to economise his private finances have fallen into some confusion.
His estates, however, fortunately brought in more than in 1931 as the date
crop was more profitable, or his indebtedness would be greater than it is.
5. Shaikh Muhammad bin Isa Al Khalifah caused some surprise by ex
tending his visit to an Austrian eye specialist in Vienna to go to England.
Shaikh Hamad was somewhat nettled that the first intimation he received of
the visit to England should have come from outsiders, and also possibly felt
that these extended tours ill concerted with Shaikh Muhammad’s pleas of
poverty. Shaikh Muhammad wrote that he was extending his visit to see His
Majesty the King, and had the honour of being presented to His Majesty at a
Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Loch accom
panied him to interpret at the request of the India Office. He was very pleased
with his reception in England. His son, Rashid, one of the less unpromising
Ah Khalifah died in October.
6. Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifah, who had long been suspected of
creating trouble so as to gain kudos by settling it, was finally seen in his true
colours over the agitation regarding the Waqfs in February. He was well
aware of the trouble that was brewing in Muharraq and did not warn the Ruler
or the Adviser of what was happening. When the trouble came to a head he
did nothing to check it, and on one occasion when Shaikh Hamad sent him out
to talk over some malcontents all he could sav to them was ‘ ana wiakum ’ or
‘ I am with you ’. When paying the ‘ Id al Fitr ’ calls the Political Agent
taxed him with this and Shaikh Abdullah was too embarrassed to deny it.
During the Divers’ riot in May he took a more commendable part, partly as a
result of the incitement caused by a gross insult offered to him by the divers.
7. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifah has done well, and is by far the
most useful of Shaikh Hamad’s sons. This is very fortunate as he is likelv
to be the heir. He has shown signs of being more able to assert himself and
is less afraid of his relations than he used to be. He is on excellent terms with
the Agency.
8. Shaikhs Mubarak bin Hamad and Abdullah bin Hamad went on the Hajj
via India on the 22nd February and returned overland on the 13th May. Thev
found the overland trip something of an ordeal, but were well satisfied with Bin
Sa’ud’s recention of them. The more observant Abdullah had noticed many
signs of the financial stringency of the Hedjaz.
9. Shaikh Da’ij continued his career as the spoilt child of the family, and,
it is believed, is still spared the rigours of an education. Ahmad, his younger
brother, a well mannered intelligent lad, has had a teacher engaged for him but
it is not known what progress he has made.
10. Shaikh Rashid bin Muhammad Al Khalifah did good work as President
of the Majlis al Urfi.
11. Bahrain FtMe. —Mr. C. D. Belgrave proceeded to' England on leave on
urgent private affairs on the 7th August and returned on the 10th September
by air.
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