Page 115 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

103
Local administration, 1946-1950
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8, Tho situation is very different at Bahrain
whore tho Financial Advisor, Director of Customs, State
Doctor, Stato Lady Doctor, two State Engineors, a Police
Inspector, two Police Sergeants and a number of nurses are
British, There was once a British Director of Education
but a local man has now been appointed as tho British
Council were unable to fill the post, and there were also
more British polico sergeants but they had to be dismissed
for misconduct and tho Shaikh on account of their
misbehaviour is unwilling to replace them.
9. Tho problem at Bahrain centres round the
personality and position occupied by Mr. Belgrave tho
Financial Adviser. He was appointed in 1926 and it is
interesting to note that at that time the policy of appoint­
ing British advisers in Bahrain was accepted with considerable
reluctance c.f. paragraphs 16 and 16 at pages 64 - 66 of
the "Historical Summary of Events in Territories of the
Ottoman Empire, Persia and Arabia affecting tho British
position in the Persian Gulf, 1907-1928" (P.G.13). Shaikh
Hamad who ruled Bahrain as Regent or Shaikh from 1923 until
1942 took little interest in the affairs of the State and
left practically everything to Mr. Belgrave after his appoint­
ment. Ac a result he became to all intents and purposes the
ruler of the State, and he still holds this position in the
eyes of the public although the present Shaikh takes an
active and effective interest in State affairs. The Shaikh
in consequence lacks that personal influence over his
subjects which is the groatost asset of an Arab ruler, and
ull discontent is focussed on Mr. Belgrave. Tho younger
Intel]igentsia in the towns are in particular maintaining
an ogitation against him. based partly on desire for a change
and partly on his financial and political conservatism.

10. Mr. Belgrave possesses a charming personality
and an artistic temperament. During the 22 years he has
held his present appointment he has maintained almost
complete security of life and property and has brought
Bahrain to a stage of material development far exceeding that
in any of tho other Gulf States. Ho does not however move
with the times and is inclined to be dilatory and unbusiness­
like in his management of State affairs. Though still
robust physically his many years in a trying climate have
probably sapped his mental energy. He is obsessed with the
idea — and this obsession is oven stronger with the Shaikh
— that as the life of the Bahrain oil-field is limited
(it is estimated at being likely to last only from twenty
to fifty years longer) he must save and invost as much money '
as possible. The more enlightened of the public on the
other hand realise that with the opening of new ports in the :l
Gulf especially on the Saudi Arabian coast and the Qatar
peninsula the importance of Bahrain will rapidly dwindle
unless strenuous efforts are made to develop its facilities
and amenities. His failure to encourage the political
growth of the Btate i3 not perhaps so serious, as owing to
the hoterogenoous nature of its population there is little
roal national feeling, but more might bo dono to associate
the poople in its government.'
11. Mr. Belgrave reachos tho ago of 55 in December i
1949 and I havo suggostod to him that he should retire
gracefully then rathor than wait until public agitation and
possibly disorders force him to go. As I have reported
I think ho would bo quite ready to retire if ho could obtain
further