File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎110v] (225/616)

He stated Shaikh Hamad's great fear was of Bin Saud ; and he reported fc
own anticipation that the whole management of affairs would more and m „ [e
come into the hands of the Political Agen .
,, 7 nn the ooth May Colonel Knox had an interview with Shaikh Isa. He
. ,4 v' iLt the Government were much concerned at the condition in Bahrain
mdtCtwewere—S to a serious course of reforms and advised him „
2nd aside and give Shaikh Hamad a freehand^
Shaikh Isa was obdurate and on the 23 rd May Colonel Knox naked Sha.kh
Hamad and Shaikh Abdulla to make one last effort to induce Shaikh Isa to agree
to bis measures. ,
On the 26th May Shaikh Isa was set aside, as far as control over matters
was concerned, and his son Hamad appointed to rule for him.
Shaikh Hamad though well meaning was without experience and had the
weak character of his father though perhaps without so much obstinacy Come-
quentlv for the next four years he took no step without the help or indeed
advice of 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 his complete lack of initiative forced Major
Daly into the foreground.
38 In June 1923 the Government of India wrote the first of their repeated
warnings that 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. must be on his guard against being tempted to
interfere too much and too directly in the Shaikh’s affairs or to become tk
administrative officer rather than the adviser.
Colonel Knox pointed out that to evolve order out of chaos steps had to k
taken, and that both Shaikh. Hamad and Major Daly were in bad odour in const-
quence of the reforms having been established.
39. Shaikh Isa then appealed to the High Commissioner at Baghdad.
The Sunni tribes were opposed to these reforms and, in November 1923, peti
tioned Colonel Trevor on his return to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
On the other hand Shaikh Hamad and Shaikh Abdulla ^ked Colonel Trevor i
he would permanently appoint a British Customs Director for Bahrain.
Trevor supported their request and also recommended the raising oi a sma
of Baluchis to maintain order, along with other local reforms such as aw c
etc. . t» • • k
Colonel Trevor pointed out this would entail the employment of three ntis
officers and that without them the reforms could not be carried out.
In reply the Government of India asked the Resident whether w ^ s
danger of going rather beyond what was laid down by them and state a n j
desired the Shaikh to be actively associated with the measures of ameliora i ^
not merely to follow passively in the wake of changes pressed upon them. J
ed whether an Arab from Iraq or Egypt could not function as Director o
It is unnecessary to go into the further correspondence on the subject.
40. In January 1924 Mr. de Grenier took over the appointment of .^^ C ^ cer
Customs and in the same year a corps of Baluchis was raised under a Bn is ^
and in 1926 an adviser was appointed who deals with judicial, financial an g'
administration. ^
In the course of a compilation of a record-of-rights it came to y
Shaikh Isa had frequently sold the same plot twice to different people a
given documents for land included in the property of others.
41. Outrages against life and property now began to be common, o w
were perpetrated by Shaikh Khalid and his sons, members of Shaikh Isa s
the al Khalifeh. ^
42. On the 24th July 1924 the Foreign Secretary wrote that ^ e c ° the
ment of India had no desire to proceed further or faster than they cou , ^
Shaikh whole-heartedly with them. They think the Political Agen . ^
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. have shown a tendency to treat the Island too muc
jines of a Native State in India.”
Colonel Prideaux reported that he had obtained the impression that
Hamad whole-heartedly approved of the reforms.
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