Page 577 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Development projects, 1941-1946 565

11 jtb (f Coni ldentlal.
D .0 .HO *160-3 . Persian Gulf Residency,
Bushl re,
3let January 1946.
When I got to Bahrain in February I am anxious
to examine the queation of Bahrain development and to
formulate, with your aeolatanoe, oome definite plan for
future action. The matter really etando at present with
the Government of India letter Ho.D.9600-MB/46 dated 22nd
Auguet 1946, which was to have been implemented by you on
your visit to Bahrain, but whioh, owing to the absence of
Belgrave, could not be effectively handled at the time.
2. The problem seems to mo to fall under the
following heads and the approach to it to be neaeeoury in
the following ordor via,
(ij Reforms in the existing adminietratlon (ii)
Formulation of a financial policy, (ill) Increased or
more efflalent staff to strengthen the existing adminis­
tration, and to onable it to oarry out (lv) new schemes.
3. with regard to (1) the pre-oooupationsof the
war years seems largaly to have prevented Political Agents :
from being able to do more than notice the defeots with­
out being able to offer practical suggestions for their
remedy• 8eTeral have commented on the Adviser's lack of
administrative ability, hie inability to dooontralise any
powers and the concentration of all control in his own
h&ndo. As early as 1939 confirmation of this oame from
an unofficial souroel Davenport Jones in his letter of
resignation (copy forwarded to Bahrain with Residency
Printed Letter No.C/667 dated 6th November 1939) complain­
ed of laok of oo-operation from Belgrave "who by allotting
to himself control of public works, funds, staff and other
State affairs is able to Interfere at will in all mattors
affecting the medloal and other State departmente." You
are, of oourse, aware of these general complaints but 1
shall like to have more details and proposals for remedies.
In fact, what (if any) powers regarding (a) finanoe (b)
staff has the Adviser delegated to the Director of Oustoms,
the State Engineer, the Kduoatlonal Adviser (when present),
and the Medloal Officer 7 Does he fulfil any other direct
administrative functions as well as that of Oommandant of
Police ? Does he sit in Court 7 It occurs to me that
the thorny question of Belgrave's direot oontrol of the
polioe might onoe again be broached by suggesting the
training of the British policeman in charge for a specified
period, it being understood that he took over as Superin­
tendent at the end of that period — Shaikh Khalifa remain­
ing nominal hoad. Again, I have been wondering what
arrangements are for the actual proeeoutlon in Court of
criminal oases especially against British subjects and
Amerloane.
4. Under Kduoatlon and Public Health the 8tate should
adopt a much less half-hearted policy, On these subjects
the Annual Report of the Bahrain Government makes sorry
/reading.

Lt.Col. A.C. Galloway, O.B.K •»
Poll tl cal Agent,
Bahrain.