Coll 30/33 'Persian Gulf, Trucial Coast. Policy of H.M.G. List of Trucial Sheikhs' [‎344v] (688/818)

appointments in the State, and ultimately will prove competent to take over the
position now held by the Kuropean Adviser and Customs Director.
(j) Waqfs are eminently a religious matter in which it behoves foreigners,
especially non-Muslims, to walk very warily.
Just before his departure. Major Daly, moved by certain bad scandals, attempted i
to take action to reform the Waqfs, but his successor decided it would be best not to*
interfere and to trust to the public opinion that was being stirred by the liberal policy
of the State. The policy of non-interference appears to be justifying itself. Recently
the Shiahs themselves appointed a committee which took over their Waqfs from the
Qadhi. If the Sunnis follow suit, large sums now pocketed by the Qadhis mav
become available for primary education.
8. I have examined the present conduct of affairs in Bahrain and 1 see nothing
that can be profitably altered at the present moment.
Innovations which met with opposition in are now accepted as the ordinary
scheme of things; and the Bahrain merchants look forward to the development of air
communication under British auspices. The unpopularity of the British Government,
which was worked up in the Arabic and other Press, has now disappeared and their
good works are appreciated. In time the good works and the tyranny from which
the British rescued Bahrain, and especially the Shiah Baharanah, will be forgotten,
and only the privileged position of the British occupying the chief posts will be
noticed.
To avoid the odium which would fall on Britain, in course of time, from this
cause, it is necessary to educate natives of Bahrain to take the place of the British
officials.
( J. Captain Prior, 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. at Bahrain, thinks that a useful understudy for
Mr. de G renier offers in Abdulla bin Shaikh Ibrahim al Khalifa—at present a third-
year student at the American University in Beirut. He has industry, but
unfortunately no great aptitude for arithmetic. Captain Prior thinks, however, that
when he has completed his course at Beirut he might be sent to India for training
in the Customs Department at Bombay or Karachi, before being appointed to the
Bahrain Customs with a view eventually to taking over charge.
I consider Captain Prior’s proposal very sound and recommend it for adoption.
If Abdulla bin Shaikh Ibrahim’s indifferent arithmetic is a bar to the efficient
performance of his duties, one of his younger cousins—Shaikh Khalifa bin Shaikh
Mahomed or Shaikh Hamad bin Shaikh Abdulla, nephews of the present Deputy Ruler
—who are first-year students, might later be selected for training.
10. There remains the question of a successor to the Adviser. Although
Government do not appear to desire the immediate removal of Mr. Belgrave, this
question must be considered.
Shaikh Hamad, the Deputy Ruler, is an amiable nonentity. Captain Prior, in
alluding to his weakness and the impossibility of allowing him to stand on his own
feet, has stated truly : “ So long as he can enjoy the pleasures of the harem, get
shooting and hawking, and enough money to support him with a little pomp and pride
of place, he does not mind what happens to Bahrain.”
Such a man must have an adviser on whom he can lean. His natural adviser is
his eldest son, Sulaiman, age about o5, who will probably succeed him. Sulaiman
is not without promise; he is intelligent and is gaining valuable experience on the
magisterial bench, but he is uneducated and -in some ways little removed from
a Bedu.
The only really capable member of the Al Khalifa family is Shaikh Hamad’s
brother, Abdulla, who is self-educated, but is unfortunately distrusted by the people
owing to his previous evil record.
Of Shaikh Hamad’s sons the one who shows most promise is Shaikh Mubarak,
the fourth son. In my letter No. 860 S. of 21st August 1929 I have already
recommended that a good tutor should be obtained for him. It is hoped that in due
course he may be given a chance to acquire administrative experience so as to be a
help first to his father and then to his brother, Sulaiman, who has no son to follow
after him, and that he may in due course be able to perform the functions now falling
to the European Adviser.
11. With the spread of education it should be possible to conduct the adminis
tration of Bahrain without any British interference in internal affairs in a manner
which will not shame us. At present, owing to the weakness of the Deputy Ruler
and the lack of men of suitable character, this is impossible.