Page 146 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

134 Records of Bahrain

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leaders have seen Bolgrave on froquent occasions, thoy appear

to be pleased with the overhaul of the Shia Shera Court, and
generally they have behaved quite reasonably so far. They
have some rather Utopian ideas which I gather are to be sub­
mitted on paper, but it should not be difficult to prevent

any recrudescence of Bahama agitation. With the town Arabs
on the other hand, the difficulty is that everything is so
intangible. One cannot ascertain specific grievances, they
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have no leaders except for the irresponsible agitators who
have been put under restraint, and in fact this is an irrational
Youth Movement exploited by semi-criminal persons for their
own ends. Foreigners in general have held aloof, and so far
the divers and the cooly classes in the towns have not res­
ponded to the Young Men1s Appeals. But these latter classes

are scarcely noted for stability and the wild stories that
go around must have an unsteadying effect $ for even people
of the better class seem to believe every absurd rumour they
hear.
6. One of the most dangerous rumours which has gained wide
belief owing perhaps to past history in Bahrain and distorted

stories of happenings in Kuwait, is that the agitators will
have the support of the Agency. Though I have consistently
refused to hold any communication with any Bahrain subject
interested in this agitation, I learn that even quite sensible
people have been led to believe that the British Government
always sympathise with so-called "reformers” and that conse­
quently the Political Agent must support this ridiculous Youth

. Movement. This is a serious matter, for I fear it helps to
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keep the idea of forcible agitation alive, Were there any
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3 acknowledged leaders amongst the town Arabs I would request
permiosion/-