'ملف رقم 19/169 IV الإصلاحات في البحرين' [و‎‎٩] (١٢٤/١٧)

if/ibo
Conl iaentiai >
Persian Gulf rtesldency,
Bushl ret
olst January 1946.
M-
When I get to Bahrain in February I am anxious
to examine the question of Bahrain development and to
formulate, with your assistance, some definite plan for
future action. The matter really stands at present with
the Government of India letter Mo.D*9600-M£/45 dated 22nd
August 1945, which was to have been implemented by you on
your visit to Bahrain, but which, owing to the absence of
Belgrave, could not be effectively handled at the time.
2. The problem seems to me to fall under the
following heads and the approach to it to be necessary in
the following order viz,
(ij Reforms in the existing administration (ii)
formulation of a financial policy, (iii) Increased or
more efficient staff to strengthen the existing adminis
tration, and to enable it to carry out (iv) new schemes.
5. *ith regard to (i) the pre-occupationsof the
war years seems largely to have prevented Political Agents
from being able to do more than notice the defects with
out being able to offer practical suggestions for their
remedy. Several have commented on the Adviser's lack of
administrative ability, his inability to decentralise any
powers and the concentration of all control in his own
hands. As early as 1939 confirmation of this came from
an unofficial source; Davenport Jones in his letter of
resignation (copy forwarded to Bahrain with Residency
Printed Letter No.C/667 dated 6th November 1939) complain
ed of lack of co-operation from Belgrave "who by allotting
to himself control of public works, funds, staff and other
State affairs is able to interfere %t will in ail matters
affecting the medical and other State departments.* You
are, of course, aware of these general complaints but I
shall like to have more details and proposals for remedies.
In fact, what (if any) powers regarding (a) finance (b)
staff has the Adviser delegated to the Director of Customs,
the State Engineer, the Educational Adviser (when present),
and the Medical Officer ? Does he fulfil any other direct
administrative functions as well as that of Commandant of
Police ? Does he sit in Court ? It occurs to me that
the thorny question of flelgrave's direct control of the
police might once again be broached by suggesting the
training of the British policeman in charge for a specified
period, it being understood that he took over as Superin
tendent at the end of that period — Shaikh Khalifa remain
ing nominal head. Again, I have been wondering what
arrangements are for the actual prosecution in Court of
criminal cases especially against British subjects and
Americans.
4. Under Education and Public Health the State should
adopt a much less half-hearted policy. On these subjects
the Annual Report of the Bahrain Government makes sorry
/reading.
Lt.Col. A.C. Galloway, O.B.^.,
Political Agent,
B A IIR AIK .