File 522/1922 Pt 5 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Administration: Internal Affairs: British Interference' [‎23r] (56/356)

be run as, for instance Kuwait is, as an Arab city on
Arab lines. The answer is tnat the population of the two
cities is wholly dissimilar. The population of Kuwait is
largely Bedouin: their outlook is towards and of the desert.
The people who come and shop there are the desert Arabs of
the interior. Kuwait commanded till recently the pick of
the Bedouin tribes, the Ajman and Mutair, and all their
wealth and trade came from traffic with the interior and
from their flocks and herds, finally Kuwait has a homo
geneous population.
6 . The population of Bahrain is hetrogeneous and
divided by racial and religious differences - Bejdis,
Wahabis, Persians, Sunnis, Shiahs and large colonies of
Mohammedan and Hindu Indians. Bahrain is a purely
commercial centre, its outlook is towards Bombay and the
stock markets of the world on which it* depends to sell its
pearls. The people who come and shop there are largely the
wealthy pearl merchants of Paris and Bombay • it has no
tribes worth mentioning, and an enervating and relaxing
climate which shows itself in the Aracs who have settled
.
there, its wealth comes from its pearls almost entirely,
it may perhaps be increased shortly by the disco\eio of oil.
7 . how with a population such as this, many o± wnose
members are extremely wealthy, and which is crougnt in
closer contact with the outside world than the population
of any other place in the Gulf, it is not unnatural to find
a strong desire for decent administration and. lor the
amenities which they obtain elsewhere. As was stated m
your telegram referred to above, what we have done is good
in itself. We have not foisted upon an unwilling people
measures which they did not want or a horae of low paid
officials neitner have we introduced vexatious rules or
regulations. We have improved the lot of the aiver and lnr fe e
ly rescued him from virtual slavery: we have established
simple