'File 19/218 (C 84) Bahrain Succession' [‎23r] (47/210)

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put hiraaelf on the tftrone ? And is tners likely to be any
aort of open strife ?
6. The policy of tne Government of India, and of His
^j&Jeaty'a Government, in tno Oulf is, for sound reasons, not
to recognise fce/erehand any succesaor to a ohaikh, and though
ve departed'from the practice in ^tar it was for tne special
reason of inducing the .Ihalkh to give an oil concession in tne
right direction. In Bahrain, however, we nave recognised
nobody as successor, nor has tne Shaikh asked us to do so.
7. I like Abdullah bin Isa personally, and on various
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occasions he has rendered us assistance e.g. in helping Belgrave
to acquire the lana for the naval base, and in connection with
the transit dues negotiations with the Saudi delegation. I
seem to remember also Belgrave telling me tnat he - Abdullah -
adopted a sensible attitude to the claims of the Baharna to
better treatment. 9alman, on the other hand, is lively to be
more amenable to our influence, but would not be such a strong
ruler, and I have a personal predilection for a Shaikh who can
stand on his own lege. The young Abdu?lan I do not know much
about. In your reply to m./ letter please iacluJs a ahort
career and character sketch of these tnree individuals, with
ages etc. /hich of Va^se tnree do you tnink has the most
popular support in ^nrain ? I presume there is no other
likely candidate ?
8. learing the above considerations in mind, *hen the
Shaikh does die what part, if any, do you think we ought to
play in getting any particular individual made Shaikh ? It
ria.y well be that we should play no part at all. "The best
work of a Political Officer is very often what he has left
undone. • .Ve certainly do not want to pursue the injudicious
policy /