'File 19/218 (C 84) Bahrain Succession' [‎47r] (95/210)

Secret
D.O. No. C/735-l.a/16
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CONFIOSNT'.AL RECORDS
Dated the 3rd December 1938
Will you please refer to
correspondence on the
The
-
subject of the Bahrain Succession, resting with Peel 1 s demi-
official letter No. P.Z. 3768/38 dated the 31st May 1938?
2. In the course of a visit to Shaikh Sir Hamad bin r Isa
this morning the latter mentioned that he had a very important
subject which he wished to discuss with Belgrave and myself
in private. The room was cleared and His Highness proceeded
to say that he thought it might be desirable if he nominated
a Wali-Ahad. He asked for advice and, though I said I must
necessarily obtain your views before giving him any official
advice, he pressed me to say what I thought personally as his
friend. Accordingly I replied that I thought it would be a
very good thing indeed if he would nominate his successor#
It would put an end to the type of intrigue which goes on in
which agitators attempt to make play with the names of the
two main candidates for the Shaikhdom and to the whispers
that go around that Shaikh Abdullah and Shaikh Salman are
(separately) supporting agitation for their own ends; and
generally it would clear the air, and remove cause for doubt
and misgiving. Shaikh Hamad expressed appreciation and asked
me to obtain official advice from you on this matter. He
added that he intended to consult us also about the actual
person to be nominated (assuming that he is advised to proceed
with the idea).
3/-
i 5} e
Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel
Sir Trenchard Fowle, K.C.I.E., C.B.E.,
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Bushire.