'File 19/218 (C 84) Bahrain Succession' [‎98r] (197/210)

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to place Shaikh Hamad's testament in Shaikh Salman's hands,
and opt unofficial concurrence In the Issue of Shaikh Salman* s
proclamation of February 22nd. 1 should like to place on
record, however, that the responsibilities which devolved
on me when Shaikh Hamad died were greatly lightened by the
knowledge of the policy to be pursued in such a contingency
which 1 derived from study of the records of 1938 and 1939
when, It will be recalled, the question of a successor to
Shaikh Hamad was discussed from every angle* As matters
have turned out Shaikh Hamad's testament appointing his
eldest son to succeed him has proved fortunate as the terms
of that testament have added the sanction of Shaikh Hanad's
authority to the independent choice of the Khalifah family;
and the testament which Mr» Weightman was at such pains to
secure from Shaikh Hamad has proved an invaluable asset to
Shaikh Salman in securing general assent to his succession*
In slightly altered circumstances, however. Shaikh Hamad's
testament (the secret of which was almost too well kept)
might have proved an embarrassment* If, for instance, at
the interview between Shaikhs Salman and Abdullah before
Shaikh Hamad died, the decision had been that Shaikh Abdullah
should succeed, it would have been very difficult for the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. to know whether to withhold the testament •»
and be guilty of duplicity - or produce It - and create
strife* A similar difficulty would have ariaen if, events
occurring as they have occurred, Shaikh Hamad's testament
had been in favour of Shaikh Abdullah* The factor which
was not, and could not have been, foreseen was that the
question of the succession would virtually be decided before
Shaikh Hamad was dead, and, therefore, before the contents
of his testament could be known* Happily, however, the
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