'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Reports' [‎139r] (277/432)

and persons entering or leaving the island. Facilities at
the quarantine centre on Muharraq Island have been improved
and this institution is now being run smoothly and efficiently
by the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. doctor.
The State Medical Department take the view that the
increase in the incidence of smallpox this year is,apparent
rather than real. They say that the epidemic has probably
been, in fact, only of normal proportions but that it seems
to have been more extensive because so many cases have been
exposed and treated. In the past many cases were concealed,
and people died from smallpox without the death being reported
or its cause diagnosed.
106. Local Affairs .
(i) Reference para 90 (i) of Intelligence Summary No.10
of 1942 in which it was reported that the prostitutes of Manama
had threatened either to emigrate to Kuwait or to go on strike.
In the end they adopted the latter alternative. But idleness
is irksome to people who love their work, and already the
ranks of blacklegs are nightly receiving fresh recruits.
(ii) In order to provide relief for the poor of Bahrain
a committee of Arabs was recently formed under the presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent.
of Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa to collect money in Manama and
Muharraq. About Rs 11,000/- has already been collected from
Arabs, Sunni Persians and Indians. No collections were made
from the Shia community nor were Shias invited to join the
committee. This exclusion of the Shias was insisted on by
the Fakhroo family, who gave generously to the fund, and by
Khaleel Kanoo, who was active in collecting money but less
active in giving it. The Shias have felt bitterly their
exclusion from participation in this philanthropic undertaking
and complain that this is the first occasion for many years
that a deliberate and definite distinction has been made bet
ween Shias and other Arabs. They asked the Adviser whether
there was any objection to their organising similar measures
among their own community. They were told that there was no
objection and that in the matter of affording help the^Bahrain
Government would treat Sunnis and Shias alike. The^Shias
have now collected some Rs 7,000/- and both communities are en
deavouring to collect more subscriptions. The stimulus to
their activities has become political and communal jealousy
rather than philanthropy. The Shias were so incensed at the
attitude adopted towards them by the Sunni^Community that they
threatened to resign en bloc from all public bodies. It is un
likely, however, that they will carry out their threat.
It may be added that there is a considerable amount
of destitution in Bahrain. The date crop is not yet ripe and
bread is unobtainable so the poorest members of the community
have difficulty in avoiding starvation.
107. Public Relations .
On the 3rd June Mr. Bertram Thomas, Public Relations
Officer, gave a most successful evening party for the Shaikh
of Dubai. Guests included 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 leading
members of the mercantile community. After dinner war films
were shown. These included many pictures^of heavy bombers
and the factories where they are made. Since news of the
R.A.F.’s gigantic raids on Essen and Cologne had just been
received the pictures shown aroused the greatest interest.
108. Bahrain Government . t
It 0 '
On June i^h Dr
Doeg arrived in Bahrain. She has
been appointed Lady Medical Officer to the Bahrain Government