Page 75 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

Financial arrangements of the ruling family, 1940-1941 63

Confidential

6th May 1941.

Dear Alban,

The Shaikhs were very upset by Prior's letter, It was
not so much the fact that he did not approve of H.H's
suggestion - I have told them both before the matter became
official and afterwards that I v/as sure he would not approve -
but the style of the letters hurt them. Shaikh Salman has

taken it most to heart. They think that some of the remarks
in the letter originated from criticisms of the Shaikhs made
by Yusuf Kanoo, Khalil Moayad and one or tv/o others who, they
think, hope to profit by making trouble between the Shaikhs
and the Agency. 1 think Y.K. has been making some rather

silly remarks which were repeated to the Shaikhs. They don't
agree with all the figures of H.H's expenditure saying that
the amount spent on Bedu etc. includes some other items
and 1 think the three senior Shaikhs feel that before I
sent the figures to you there should have been a discussion
about the amounts with them. As you know i told H.H. that
you had asked for details and that I was sending them but I
did not discuss the figures with the other three Shaikhs.

The letters have been seen by some of the sons and
a number of the servants and hangers on at Sakhir.
H.H. himself shows great reluctance to discuss it
he v/rote the replies without consulting anyone, in fact I
have not seen his answers.

Yours sincerely,

3d/-C. Dalrymple Helgrave.

R.G.E.W, Alban, O.D.E.,
Political Agent, Bahrain.