Page 344 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Records of Bahrain

G M AV m3 foW
(340 groups)^ 2604o to ./
•p m
tf-gj-y__o.d.4JW A AJ4.o

Prom Viceroy*,.Foreign and Political
^opar9j|ntr-to Secretary of State
•HIT P*
Dated Simla, 14th May, 19230
Received 15th May0 19239 8 ^
/ " - !'V\
i'‘ liJ MAY 19231 )
priority A„
/*• «v‘-
634“>Sq Bushire telegram of" Stli'-Wftj)’, repoated to
"hj
the Colonial Office, hardly covers the whole range of the
Bahrein refoms problem; hut Knox has only recently taken over
temporarily from Trevor, and it is clear., from the form of
his telegram, that it was hastily drafted0 Thus he overlooks the
fact that the Foreign Office consider that the time has come to

face the direct issue with Persia; that should Persia he so
ill-advised as to" appeal to the League of Nations over Bahrein0
our acquiescence in the misrule would perhaps he the really
serious flaw in our case; that even if the misrule is no worse
than twenty years ago(which, judged hy the official reports,we
douht) publicity is a new factor that cannot ho ignoredv and
that the clamour for reforms is for from being confined to
foreigners. Moreover, we feel that Knox underrates the
power of his own personal influence, with the full weight of
His Majesty’s Government behind him, to Induce the Sheikh to
Initiate the reforms,.
On the other hand, we recognise that the
developments subsequent to our recommendations dictate caution,,

Cox®s departure, transfer of relations to Bushire, stoppage
of the subsidy, are bound to have unsettling reaction on 2bn
Baud, which Nejdl riot(s)in Bahrein and our consequent action
are calculated to increase. This aspect of the case lies
beyond our sphore, but we feel that, from tho Bahrein point of
view, forcible measures against o ■» » Ibn Baud's agent and other

Nejdl a