"ملف 9/9 الإصلاحات في البحرين. موارد البحرين المائية" [و‎‎٣‎٤] (٢٦١/٨٥)

pr^cticalDl® & th® compmity put up r^a
of wattr & «l«ctric power,a sch«mt w
r «qu«3t that it should "b® uad«rstood
pamy "b® formed later,a coasid-^rabi®
offered to tne Bahrain public.This l"
comditio* would be put b@fore any coi
matter & he felt sure* they would acc<
Hamad (Pres id eat) & the Majlis that t<
etaitdimg, they should obtain Shaik I sj
with the scheme.Mr Holm@s left & it i
before he reached LoadoM,if it'was d<
the arraagemeats, as I did sot recomri
definite assurance that tii^re would 1
All the members of
Hams-d & Abdulla called urn isa 6
dtcliatd to allow the scheme to proc«
fusiB-g to giv@ aisy reasons except tha
past e
XX XX ^
As a coMstqueace of Shaik I&a ? s refus
although it frequently cam® up *1
Im June 1923 ShaiiC Isa was
control of affairs placed im. the hand
One of the first proposals the latter
electrical schemes should ba pushed o
had always been strongly lav our of
eirous of carrying out earl;y some son
would make obvious to all the improves
mitigate the unpopularity which he hac
of his subjects by taking over affairs
father„
It was however,not possibl® 1
lack of funds,as Shaik Hamad desired i
state work & not to sell the water. la
the
able. Meanwhile hov/ever complications
for an oil concession had arisen & in
Colonel Trevor in M«.rch 1924 when he w
Colonel Trevor was of the opinio
wcheme should P roc ««d.,it Having arisen
nection with,the oil concession;whicha
^a.V*ed by His Majesty's Government,wha
#iich had been grafcted by the 1
It was considered desi;
tne opportunity to consult a g(
in connection with the Syndic^
3o
pr%ctica"bl@ & th« comphtmy put up r^asoaabla proposals for the supply
of wat«r & @l«ctric power, a schtm® v»ouid "b# acc«pt9d.I was ak«d to
r«qu«3t that it should bt uadarstuod from th^ outset,that if a com
pany bs formed later,a coasidaraMe portioa of the shares should be
offered to tn® Bahraija public.This I did,<Sc Mr Holmes said that this
comditioa would be put before any company inclined to d«al with the
matter & h® felt sure they would accept„ I th®B suggested to Shaik
Hamad(President) & the Majlis that to prevent any possible misundero^a
standing,they should obtain Shaik Isa^ consent to their proceeding
with the scheme oMr Holmes left ? & it was agreed that I should wire him
before he reached London,if it was desired that he should go on with
the arrangements, as I did not recommend him to do so until we had a
definite assurance that th*»re would be no further difficulties.
All the members of the council,together with Shaiks
Hamad & Abdulla called on Isa 8c explained th€ matter,,The latter
declined to allow the scheme to proceed on any condition,while re
fusing to give aMy reasons except that they had mamag^d alright in tl^e
past,
X X X X X X X X
As a consequence of Shaik l&a^a refusal the natter lapsed for a time,
although it frequently cam® up -it Municipal Mattings.
In June 1923 Shaiit Isa was removed from power & the direct
control of affairs placed in the hands of Shaik Hamad.
One of tlie lirst proposals the latter mad© was th«?.t tho water & xjbcs&fc
electrical schemes should be pushed on for two reasons- (1) That he
had always been strongly in favour of them (2) That he was keenly de
sirous of carrying out early some schemes of public benifit which
would make obvious to all the improved state of affairs & tend to
mitigate ^h© unpopularity which he had incurred among some sections
of his subjects by taking over affairs on the; supersession of his
father«,
It was however,not possible to proceed immediately owing to
lack of funds,as Shaik Hamad desired to put the scheme through as a
state work & not to sell the water. In due course funds became avail-
the
able. Meanwhile however complications consequent on the competition
for an oil concession had arisen & in view of it I eigain consulted
Colonel Trevor in March 1924 when he was in Bahrain 8c m@t i^ajor Holmes
Colonel Trevor was of the opinion that tkBX^MSSiiiocasLl the water
wcheme should P roc ««d,i-t Having arisen previously to,& having no con
nection with,the oil concession;whichat that time had been definitely
^Ved by His Majesty's Government,wh®chad refused to permit the con-
mo which had been grafcted by the Shaik„
It was considered desirable for thss Shaik to v&asMm
tne opportunity to consult a geologist who was about to come
in connection with the Syndiciiies concession in Hassa.