File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎129r] (262/616)

a Sunni people governing a 3hia population, and they do not
desire to weaken themselves by the expulsion of a powerful Sunni
support,,
I had the previous day motored out to Budayeh, the chief
town taken from the Dowasir*
When the Bowasir were expelled and the town forfeited we
had attempted to populate it with Bahrainis and to sell the
houses and land at very cheap prices*
The town is not however at present suited for agriculture,
and indeed till a recent artesian well was dug, had no drinking
water*
Sven those who took up land - under orders* did not
develop their property, and when I visited the place it was
empty except for a dozen people or so, and was falling into ruin*
Thus we were in the Arab eyes preventing the ruler of the
j j ■
country welcoming back a tribe he wished to forgive, and leaving
their property to go to ruin*
As long, then, as the tribe v/ere allowed their property on
the understanding that if they came back they returned as
ordinary members of society - subject to laws and rules as
others of the community, with no special privileges - there was
* no point that the odium of keeping them out against the obvious
wishes of 'the ruler should, rest on us*
I accordingly informed Shaikh Hamad that the point to be
considered was the good, government of his country and that he
c6uld not possibly allow back to his territory a trice
insisted on special privileges which had resulted in conside
disturbances, unless and until they realised that the;* cuu
longer occupy this privileged position and pursue their
courses*
He replied that he had informed them that they must accept
the police post in their town, to which they had objected,
that they had agreed to this. I told him that they must also
realise that they came back as ordinary individuals
inherited powers. He stated that he would make this clear.
On the following day the leading Bowasir Chiefs, who were
at