Page 522 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

decided to send for both of them tomorrow and see what could be done. The strike is a most insolent action
and sets such a bad example to the boys and the general public too, it all comes of having these unhealthy
Syrian teachers who were all taken on by the man who we are dismissing. D.G. came round in the evening.
Abdulla was going to hold a meeting of the Education committee but knowing their very unsuitable views I
persuaded him not to do so but to deal with the whole position on his own. Several of them are openly
supporting the two headmasters. This is the first time there has been a strike in Bahrain.

Monday 3rd February 1930

Shaikh Abdulla came in the morning about the school business. We discussed the affair and sent for the two
headmasters, after waiting for two hours they sent a long letter stating a number of very unreasonable
demands among them that they themselves should be appointed as members of the Education Committee.
We replied that if they returned to their work and opened the schools we would consider what they had to
say but until then we would have no discussions with them. The whole affair is causing much excitement
locally, all the boys have been told by the masters to spread the most absurd stories about the affair, they
say that religious teaching has been cut down and that Arabic is to be forbidden in the schools and that
American masters are to be brought in from Beyrout. It is all very annoying and Abdulla is very cut up about
it as he has been responsible for Education in Bahrain for several years and has made quite a success of it.
Mission in the afternoon, they were very full of questions about the school affairs and obviously rather
pleased that we were having so much trouble when they asked what was the cause of it I told them that the
people had got the idea that we were bringing in American teachers, that rather quietened them.

Wednesday 4th [5 February]

The Resident arrived on the Patric Stewart with Air Vice Marshal Sir Robert Brooke Popham, his wife, Prior,
and the First Secretary, Fowle, who was at one time Agent here for a few months. As it is Ramadan the
Shaikh did not go out to call and they came shore with no guards or salutes, a private visit. I went with Prior
to meet them at the Customs and then to the Agency. Brooke Popham seemed rather a dull person with a
young wife. Marjorie came over later and went out with her to Idari where she did a sketch and the Shaikh
called at the Agency with Mubarak. The Resident talked about Education and advised the Shaikh to remove
the boys from Beyrout and place them at Basra. Took Popham out to see the Aerodrome and the Quarantine
and then out to Idari and round the town. Luncheon party at the Agency, D.G. and the doctor were there.
They left fairly early in the afternoon. Prior came in to tea. Went to Mespers for bridge afterwards. The P.R.
had no news of any great interest. He had met Ibn Saoud in Kuwait and arranged the matter of Faisal al
Derwish, the rebel shaikh. He gave himself up to the English and he has now been handed over to Ibn Saoud
and the latter has promised to treat him properly, but I expect he will be poisoned. The meeting of the Kings
is at the end of the month. King Faisal of Irak, Ibn Saoud, and various other personages are to meet at sea on
a man of war to discuss things. I should like to be there. The Resident was very pleasant. I didnt think much
of the Airman, he had nothing to say and seemed a dull heavy person. Fine weather, calm sea and neither
too hot or too cold. The Resident went with Prior to see the new Power House and also the Muharrak sea
road, he suggests that we should float a loan to get the work done soon, if we do it out of revenue we shall
not finish it for ages. I think it is a good plan, though I dont care for loans in the ordinary way, we shall need
six lacs.