Page 260 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

676 Records of Bahrain

progroosivo of tho Sheikh'o oona; when I was at Bahruin ho wao
helpful in tho matter of the landing arrangements, ana when Colonel
(then Captain) Koyos was Political Agont at tho beginning of tho
waB ho wao vory useful ana was givon a O.I.E. All thi3 howover sooma
to have boon aono with a viow to supplant his oldor brother Shoikh
Hamad as heir apparent, ana towaras tho ona of tho war ana lor
sometirao after Sheikh Abaullu booamo virtual rulor of Bahrain.
When the state of affairs was first brought to my nolico I
thought that perhaps matters would be improvoa by roinstuting
Shoikh Hamad in his proper position, ana this was aono last hot
weathor, but as roported in my abovo mentioned lottor it has not
had tho desired effect. At tho timo the question of reinstating
SheikhHainad xnxkixxpnipHrxpBxitiHJi^xanccxkhiBxwaKxctBjittxiaskxKDl:
camo up there was considerable agitation against cihoiKh ACouulla ana
the latter thought it auvisable to protenu to withuraw from
affairs in ousc matters snoula aomo to a hoaa; ho tiicreforo
protondod to acquiesco in Shoikh Hamad's roinstatomont but has
never coasod to intrigue against him. In this ho is aoly assisted
by his mother who is a very masterful laay ana who completely
dominates Sheikh Isa.
The Political Agont has frequently spoken to Bhcikh Isa about
these matters but ho is quite in his uotago ana completely unaor
the thumb of his v/ifo, 30 that nothing can bo done in this way. He
has also had several talks with Bhe.ikh Abdulla but the latter,
while professing everything declines to mcna his ways, ^n.ctnnr
point is that unaor present conaitions if Sheikh Isa wore to die,
Sheikh Abaulla would certainly not ullow Hamad to succooa
quietly, without making a fight for it.
In the circurastancos I think the only way to improve matters
would bo for Government to miorm the ohoikn mat owing to tho
number oi complaints against Sheikh Abuuiiu the latter must leave
the Islana until suitable guarantees are forthcoming that he will
not interfere in local atfairs.
I am not sure whether this stop will commend itseli to tho
Government of India at the prosont time; I qi.. sure however that it
v/oula