Page 395 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Annual review, 1960 381
confidential
-1-

The lull in the international affairs of Uiia part oi’ Llio
world continued; so Bahrein passed an uneventful mu prosperous
year, even if the edge of an economic overe.-ot was Uioccmihlo

on the horizon.
The Ruler, Shaikh Salman bin llnm-d A1 ithullfuh, passed the

whole year on the iolund; his health remained good and hio grip
on the government, for good or ill, became stronger. Shaikh lea
bin Salman the heir apparent, injured hie opine in a cur accident
early in the year; after e for months' treatment, first in the
oil company hospital and then in Lnglnd, lie recovered coupletely.
2. The Chief of Police, Shaikh Khclifah bin ^ahommed's health
gave further grounds for anxiety during 196O; after tro attacks
of cardiac asthma he spent most of the summer in England, On hi »
return to Bahrain, however, he seemed to have benefited greatly,
though recovery would bo loo strong n word to use. After his
return he took the opportunity of expressing to the Political
Resident, in identical tor.is to the one used by the President of
the Courts, Shaikh Daij bin Bemad, similar views on the eventual
succession to those which those two expressed last year. loitj*)/1 *)•
3. As though aware of the throat to his sons' future position of
tiu. ivhalifa-Daij alliance, the Ruler tool; uteis to give thorn
experience and a bigger say in the govcrn.-ient ox the island, despite
their youth and neglected education. IK; promoted his second son
Shaikh Kii.tlii'uh to tlio position of Houd of finance, and >ut his
W’iicl -on, °haiJf.' Mohav.iod into the former's place as President of
the Education Council. Shai h l.iohamod bin Salman's roul ambition,

however, appears to clash with one which Shaikh Daij, according to
cone, secretly harbours; it is to be Head of Police.
4. Only in one direction did His Highness take a stop towards
loosening the family ..ono-oly, and that was in the Lav/ Courts and
at the behest of Her Kajesty'o Government, who dangled before him
tlio carrot *»f the transfer of jurisdiction. In his heart the Ruler
would orobablv not wish Cor this transfer, if it were not for the
CONFIDENTIAL /Kuwaiti