'File 9/4 Bahrain Reforms. Introduction of Reforms in Bahrain' [‎41r] (98/224)

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ttae meantime of solemn pacts between Shaikh 'Isa and tlie tribes, that they
would never desert each other, that they would emigrate in a body and leave
the Island, that they had no use for a Majlis at which they would sit in com
pany with that objectionable person, the foreigner and their own ryots, the
Baharinah. I took occasion to warn Shaiks Hamad and Abdullah that Shaikh
'Isa was in no sense a free agent, that I saw no necessity for him to leave
Bahrain at all, and in any case, if he found the new regime so distasteful, 1
expected him to consult the British Government as to his future place of residence
when no doubt, Bombay or Ceylon could be arranged for him and asked " if the
tribes proposed to follow him there V It all petered out in talk and when even
tually the evening before the Majlis, Shaikhs Hamad and Abdullah ordered the
Sunni representatives to attend fie Majlis which wasjicld in the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , the Sunnis
d 4 d, so I understand, go to Shaikh 'Isa to take h : s orders on tin subject. It is
reported that Shaikh 'Isa replied to them that Shaikh Hamad was his son, that ho
had brought h"m up, that he was his heir-apparent and that the tribes had better
obey bis orders, thus showing an unexpected degree of acquiescence in the pro
ceedings. I have already in my telegram No. 481, dated 29th May, given a brief
epitome of what took place at the Majlis and Appendix III to this Report gives, to
the best of my recollection, the speech I delivered thereat in English and in Arabic.
Shaikh Hamad sat on my right and Captain Coleridge of H. M. S. " Cyclamen ''
on Shaikh Hamad's right. On my left was 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. and on his left
Shaikh Abdullah. Members of Al-Khalifa family seated on chairs formed the
horns of the Assembly, A sprinkling of English residents or visitors to Bahrain
were seated behind me on chairs and representatives of the communities in Ipa)rain
seated on carpets formed the main body of the Majlis between the two horns.
I judged the number of persons to have been between 200 and 300 persons. Shaikh
Hamad's address was first made. It had been prepared by 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. in
close consultation with Shaikhs Hamad and Abdullah, 'It was read with remark
able facility and eloquence by Shaikh Muhammad-bin-Isa, the second brother and
poet of the family, and was so remarkably well read that even I, a foreigner, did
not fail to appreciate and catch every word. Shaikh Muhammad, as was his due,
received many compliments after the Majlis closed, on the clearness and emphasis
with which it was read. Shaikh Hamad's speech with translation forms Appendix
IV to this "Report. My own speech I delivered from scanty notes which were
hardly looked at and I have not thought it advisable to delay this Report so as to
include the Arabic version which was read by the clerk of the Municipality at
Manameh and has been retained for the present by 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. , Bahrain,
in order that copies may be made and distributed. It shall be forwarded as soon
as practicable for the information of Government with other documents referred
to here and there, not Appendices, in this report.
12. Throughout the proceedings I was careful not to fetter myself and warned
Shaikh Hamacf not' to fetter himself by specifying detailed measures of reform.
I have alreadv telegraphed (Despatch No. 482, "dated 29th May, to your address)
the one measure of reform that presses most urgently, setting 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. -
free to devote himself entirely to the guidance and strengthening of Shaikh Hamad. •
I formed a very favourable opinion of Major Daly whom I met for the first time at
Bahrain. He appears to me capable, zealous and energetic, with a good practical
experience and a" good understanding of Arabs and their ways. Above all, he
seems to have established a most complete and desirable ascendency over Shaikh
Hamad and a firm hold—though not of course the close friendship he has formed
with Hamad—over the gther brother, Abdullah, a very important peonage. If
we can secure this freedom 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. , of which I have endeavoured
with all the force at mv command, to show the desirability, I think that the rest
% will in (Treat measure follow. We may hope to retain Major Daly for another two
vears without special leave anrl I will only remark in passing that it is by no means
unlikelv that circumstances may involve occasional deputation of him to the
Sultan of Nejd on the business "of His Majesty's Government and during such
absences which may perhaps be prolonged I regard it as of the highest importance
that BfWain should not be left without a good Englishman in charge. No Indian,
Arab or Persian Assistants will suffice. The man selected should be prepared to
stav learn Bahrain thoroughly and take Daly's place when required either when
he is absent on deputation or when he eventually leaves Bahrain on leave, as for
the oood of the service he eventually must, probably about two years from now.
It all depends on the selection made now whether the man can ear n his own salary
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