Page 37 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

Death of Shaikh Hamad bin 'Isa, 1942 25
“8-

agroed that we should meet again on Thursday.

At present public opinion is generally in favour
of Shaikh Salman, who, it is thought, is the best
ohoioo among the family but unlikely to acquire the
affoction in whioh hi3 father was hold. He is not
and never has boon liked by his brothers, who aro

mostly very much younger than him. When the fact
was first known there was consternation in the house­
holds of many of the Shaikhs but since then Shaikh
Salman has seen or sent messages to a number of re­
lations and people who were dependent upon his father
promising to look after them. Shaikh Mohomed and
Shaikh Abdullah, espeoially the former, have let it

be seen very oleorly that they do not contemplate
any withdrawal from the control of the 6tate. I
think this is a good thing. Actually for several
years the two uncles and Shaikh Salman and myself
have constituted a sort of unofficial State Counoil
for dealing with all matters of importance whioh were

Invariably handed over to us for consideration by
Shaikh Hamad. The matter over which there may be
friction is Shaikh Hamad’s estate and Shaikh Salman*3
administration of hie Privy Purse.
A cortain faction mostly in MUharraq including
some local merchants and younger members of the Ruling

Family also most of the "Shubban" (’Jroung men") are
extremely disappointed that Shaikh Abdullah did not
become Ruler. The Bahama are intensely relieved
that neither Shaikh Mohomed nor Shaikh Abdullah have
oomo into power. There was an idea current mainly
among the Bahama that Shaikh Hamad would be the last

Khalifah Ruler and that after him the British would
take