Page 363 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Reforms and unrest, 1923 779

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Hamad should mnko a speech, whothcr I should make a speech, what wc should say,
etc., etc. I gave the sons a draft letter for Shaikh ’Isa to think over and, if ovcntully
ho felt bo disposed, to sign. There wna some talk about this letter and it was pro­
posed that two letters should be prepared, one for the public information announc­
ing Ilia retirement and his handing over affairs to Shaikh Hamad, and tho othor
secret, containing Shaikh ’Isa’s assurance that he would in no way interfere, iutriguo
against or counteract Shaikh Hamad’s measures of.reform. It was also proposed
that this secret lettor should contain some assurances as to Shaikh Isa’s personal
allowances, after retirement, and that he acquiesced in all Government revenues
passing to Shaikh Hamad and to Shaikh Hamad alone.
8. On the afternoon of tho 23rd of May, telegram No. G74-S., dated 23rd May,
from you to myself at Bahrain, gave me the full assurances I sought and I com-
municatcd its contents to Shaifehs Hamad and Abdullah and urged them to
mako one last effort to induco Shaikh ’Isa to bring mo tho desired letters,
secret and open if they so preferred, at my interview with him next morning, Tho
next morning (the 24th), however, nothing came but a letter from Shaikh ’Isa
informing me that Shaikhs Hamad and Abdullah had communicated my messago
to him and that lie urged that I would either consult the tribes as to whether they
still wished him as a ruler, or failing that, would acquaint him by letter with the
decision of Government. It is as well to state liorc that at tho interview of the
20th May, Shaikh ’Isa had already urged me to consult the tribes. I asked who tho
tribos might be, knowing well that beyond the Al-Khalifa and the Dowasir Head­
men of Budaiyah, who have ever one eye turned in the direction of Bin Saud, there
arc no tribes in Balirain worthy the name. I told him that it is quite superfluous
for mo to consult the tribes knowing perfectly well that their answer would be that
they preferred Shaikh ’Isa, who allowed them to do anytlu'ng they liked, rather
i ’ ii a Shaikh who would rule them, bring them to subjection and exact the Shaikh-
ly dues from them. It was no sucli consent I was out to seek when the British
Government had already firmly decided that anarchy must cease.
9. I must also remark here that Shaikh ’Isa liimsclf broko our pact of secrecy
ordering a Mazbata (circular petition) to be prepared by his own special proteges,
among the Baharinah which all Baharinah were to be ordered to sign. The attempt
was hopeless : Isa’s myrmidons were informed that they might sign the Mazbata
if they pleased but that nobody else was going to, and Baharinah quickly countered
with two powerful Mazbatas addressed to myself, telling mo of tho oppression they
had lain under for the past twenty years owing to Shaikh Isa’s tolerating every
petty Slmikhling oppressing them at his option.
10. To Shaikh Isa’s letter of the 24th morning I replied briefly stating that
I saw no necessity to consult the tribes and that Government’s orders wero that ho
should make way for his son and no longer take an activo part in tho administration
and that the necessary steps were being taken to give effect to theso orders.. I had
arranged to have the Director of Customs in attendance. I summoned him and
gave Jiim a personal warning to the effect that tho Customs revenues were to be
paid to Shaikh Hamad and Shaikh Ilamad alone and that no drafts except those
under Shaikh Hamad’s signature wero to be honoured : in ease of failure by him to
comply with these orders, he would be held personally responsible. I learnt subse­
quently from Major Daly that the Customs Director immediately took ship for
Muharraq to consult Shaikh ’Isa on the subject of the order that lie had received
and was met there by the local Muharraq Director who asked on what errand he
was bound. When ho told the Muharraq Director what his ciTand was, tho local
Director informed him that his errand was utterly futile, his news was stalo and
everybody knew all about it. Tho Customs Director thereupon roturned and I
had a littlo word with him subsequently on tho folly of his conduct in that, he,
a British subject, attempted to intrigue with Shaikh ’Isa against tho orders of the
British Government: lie would probably find liimsolf sufficiently occupied in
endeavouring to set his own house in order against an enquiry into the administra­
tion of tho Dustbins which must inevitably follow in tho courso of two or three
months.
'
11. Wo thon sot in earnest about tho preparations for tho Majlis at which tho
public announcement of Shaikh Isa’s rotiromont would bo mado. It was fixed for
and hold on tho morning of Saturday, tho 20th of May. Thoro was much talk in