Page 311 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

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Bahrain and the British, 1921-1922 727

on ono oocanlon which wao reported to you and to tho
High Gomraisaioner for Iraq, thoy attempted to approach raof
hut woro dlooouraged an wo had no dooiro to interfere
in tho affaira of tho Sultan of Najd. Aloo it io
boooraing inoroaolngly apparent that Bln Saul is anxious to
havo a hand in Bahruln affaire. The oamo attitude has,
I bollovo^ boon noticed by tho Political Agent, Kuwait
in regard to that placo. Itwwould therefore be in hlo
interoeta if tho inefficient udminintration of Bahrain

continuou, enabling him to ruxVre secret alliarooo with
Independent factIona such ao the Dowaoir. Reforms,
entailing equitable taxation rnoann nupport to tho Bahrain
Govornmont to enablo thorn to control equally tho Sunni and*
Shiah tribes. Tho Dowaoir ha^-o boon Bottled ao long in

Btv ^ln that thoy are reco/rnlnod ao Bahrain subjects.
in th'iir rolutionn with tho ohoiks they do not enjoy tho
good offices of the Agoricy, ao in tho caoo with all
recognised nubjocto of Bin Saud. Since thoy are however
virtually independent thoy buvo no need for ouch assistance
The Rulers of Bahrain havo rocontly adopted a some­
what more Juot attitude towurds the Shiahs, probably as
a r«3uult of the warning givon by Governmont, but quite
recently thoy appear to bo teot.ing their powor again in

this respect, and as in accordance with# the instruct ions
of Govurnu.ont I havo scrupulously avoided interference,
they are lnclinod to gain confidence. The Bahrainis on
the ot.hor hand are dlvidod, and some of tho loaders are
disoourugod at having obtalnod no support from H.H.O.

ao a rooult of appoalo, whorGao others advocate open rebel­
lion should opproooion again increase and are reported to
have imported aruio.
Tho Sunni tribes are almost all pearling Hafrhudae.
Great opproooion exiato in the pearl diving, and the
majority of the opprosoed are Shiahs and under British