Page 353 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Reforms and unrest, 1923 769 '

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COPY 0 p y tt. ft R G R AJJ/° • &.4v^
Resident* Bushire, to Secretary of State for India0
Datod Bahrein,, 20th Mayn 19230
y
s Received 21ot May,, 19230 10 a0mo
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O

Clear the Line„
B06o Please refer to last paragraph of my telegram
No„B.2, dated the 19th May, Convoroatiorn now finished
and Sheikh of Bahrein has received,, in fullest and
*3 urmistakeable terms,,warning of Viceroy’s telegram 475-S,
of April 17th0 Sono are, I think* on our side and (sic)
although Sheikh says "You can kill rae or turn me out,
but while I am alivoy I will not retire",, ^Long-bcforo-(oic)
I think ho 'mly needs a push and will bow to necessity.
He showed intense anxiety to keep negotiations secret and,

at the last moment, tald me that his private opinion was that
Sheikhdom of Bahrein was to himself not worth a cigarotte.
But to this end I must have authority to retire him
forcibly if the obstinate old man jibs at (? last) moment.
There will be no real force required,,only public
announcement that the Sheikh is retired on account of
age, and instructions to those concerned that payments are
to bo made to and orders taken from Sheikh Hamad alone,
hie father’s regont0 under penalty of severo displeasure
if our orders are disobeyed,.
Recent events give us an excellent excuse for
action which nay not recur, The idea of letting Sheikh
Isa try to do bottor may be dismissed as visionary*
There will be evanescent reforms and matters will slide
back as before and ciroumstanocs may not combine so
/ favourabij^hd dramatically as at presont, No efforts will be
( • spnri&Yddl^^Art, or that of the Political Agent, or of Sheikh
/.\0> Hamad
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