'File 19/165 I (C 18) Bahrain Reforms' [‎58r] (128/528)

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In fact, onoo it Is decided to bring pressure to "bear,
it bGooraes impossible to guarantee that Government will
be able to stop short at any particular point of moral
or physical compulsion*
?• It follows that if Government are determind to
put a stop to the abuses in Bahrain, they must be prepared
to impose the Reforms upon the SheiWi; to support their
introduction if necessary with material force (whether
it be bombardment by H.M.Ships, or the actual deposition
of the ruler); and finally to meet the criticism which
is bound to be levelled gainst us by our ill-wishers
for taking a strong line. For it is certain that any
action which Government may decide to take in Bahrain
will be closely watched both by Persians and by Arabs
and sunnis generally; and especially by Bin Saud, whose
hint at his recent interview with Sir Percy Cox as to
the unpleasent situation of the Sheikh of Bahrain vis-a-via
an aggressive 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. , plainly indicates w,hat his
attitude as an ultra-orthodox Sunni is likely to be
towards a vigorous policy of pro-Shiah reform in Bahrain.
in
This point has also been alluded to/the letter from 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, no. 111-C dated 3rd July 1922
enclosed with my letter no. 529-S dated 16th July 1922
(quod vide).
The one easy solution is the natural succession of Sheikh
Hamad who though ignorant is reasonable and progressive.
He could be trusted to introduce the reforms himself with
the advice of his 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 Government would
be relieved of the unpleasent alternative of tolerating
abuses or forcibly intervening to end them. But that
solution need not be anticipated for some time.
8. For all practical purposes at present therefore
Government is presented with a choice between these two
alternatives, either of which is attended with difficulty.
The