Page 23 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Accession oj Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifah, 1942 11

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6, It had been expected that when Shaikh Hamad died
the succession would be disputed. In fact, however, Shaikh

Salman assumed the reins of government with the unanimous
conoent of the Khalifah family and without objeotion on the
part of any class of his subjects, The transition from
one rule to another has, lndood, been so peaceful, so free
from the displays of partisan spirit whioh normally mark
such occasions In Arab Sheikhdoms, that it may be of Interest
to record in some detail the steps by rfilch It was accom­
plished.

6. On the evening of February 19th, while Shaikh
Hamad was still lying In a state of coma, Shaikh Abdullah
paid a private visit to Shaikh Salman. Shaikh Abdullah,
it will be reoalled, io the younger of Shaikh Salman's
two uncles and had been commonly regarded as Shaikh Sal­
man's most dangerous rival In a disputed succession.
Shaikh Abdullah, in the course of his Interview with Shaikh
Salman, urged that he, Shaikh Salman, should succeed Shaikh
Hamad if Shaikh Hamad did not rec6var from his stroke)
and he promised his full support to Shaikh Salman, After
discussion Shaikh Salman agreod to take his father's plaae
on condition that all the family supported him. It Is

not known whether Shaikh Mohammad (Shaikh Salman's elder
uncle) was privy to Shaikh Abdullah's overtures before they
were made, but Immediately after Shaikh Hamad's death,
when the family oolleoted at Rumaltha, Shaikhs Mohammad
and Abdullah took Shaikh Salman aside and told him that
they regarded him as the natural successor of Shaikh Hamad
and that they would support him loyally In the same way
as they had supported his father, The three Shaikhs then
rejoined the other members of the family who were present

and Shaikh Mohammad, announcing that Shaikh Salman would
fluooeed Shaikh Hamad, asked whether any one had any objection.
/ The