Page 74 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

64 Records of Bahrain
officer. My teason for suggesting the Bombay Government Is that I happen to bo
previously acquainted with Mr. Watkins, tho Assistant Collector of Customs, Bom­
bay, whoso experience of Mesopotamia—even if his own services arc too valuable to-
bo spared—would cuablo him 1 am sure to adviso in the selection of tho right man
for tho work in Bahrein and Kuwait.
III—Government Offices. .
4., The Political Agent’s proposals under this head requiro littlo oomment.
If, as I hope, tlioy will substantially ircduco the poworof tho iniquitous Fiduwi, they
tvill command.general approval.
lV.—Survey of Bahrein Islands and Town.
, 6. Theso proposals aro perhaps a littlo prematurb, and might properly follow
. later, after the successful introduction of tho more important preliminary measures
\ already discussed. If tho Government of India agree in principle I shall be in
1 a position to approach the Iraq Government at tho proper time with a view to sccur-
\ ing the loan of an experienced revenue officer and stall for the purpose.
__ 0. So much for tho details of the preliminary plan of campaign. As to their
gcnoral offcct, thoy clearly lay themselves open to the comment that their tendency
is to introduce straightway into the administration of Bahrein a preponderating
British element. It cannot bo denied that this is so. With a British State Bank,
a British judicial officer, a British Customs adviser, possibly also a British Ttevenuo
expert, all combining to usher in the now regime under the supervision of a British
Political Agent, it is idlo to expect any other interpretation of tho situation than
that it is the introduction of a process of anglicizing Bahrein. The enclosed copy of
j ii report which I have just received from my Dragoman in Bushirc illustrates tho
I popular view in Bahrein to-day, which will be the popular view throughout the Gulf
' to-morrow.
But it is difficult to sco how this can be avoided. It is truo that in my telegram
of tho 15th May (No.’*B. I.) I suggested that Hamad might bo left to carry out ic-
forms here and thcro, as they suggested themselves, without committing himself to
anything like a definite programme—though even then I anticipated t' c danger that
the whole management of affairs might fall more and moro into* the power of tho
||Political Agent. But once you step on to the path of reform, it is impossible to say
['.where you will be led. The first inspection of affairs in Bahrein has convinced tho
Political Agent—and I entirely agree with him—that drastic reform in various
respects is an unavoidable first step. It is impossible to expect Shaikh Hamad to bo
able to carry out these first steps without our assistance, and very natural that ho
should ask us, who have taken on ourselves to depose his father and put him in
his place, to assui'ne a largo measure of responsibility. In fairness to Hamad
we cannot absolve ourselves of this responsibility whatever unfavourable conse­
quences may.result from the hostile interpretations of ignorance.
v His Majesty’s Government have pledged themselves to reforming the adminis­
tration of Bahrein, and I believe thaljAcform is really to be introduced on sound
lines, the new ruler must rely at the beginning almost solely on British support and
' guidance in the various technical difficulties that demand a settlement.
I am at ajiy rate glad to be able to ropfort even at this early stage of the new
regime that Shaikh Ilamad for his part while showing a friendly desire to lean on
the Political Agent’s support and guidance regarding administrative questions,
is proving that her is quite prepared to shoulder his own responsibilities iu such
matters as affect his own position and authority as ruler of Bahrein;

Report by Residency Drayoman.
A Persian merchant residing at Bahrein has written to his sons that the Shaikh
of Bahrein has been depospd and given a monthly allowance of Its. 4,000, that ho
bitterly resents this action by the British authorities and intended to proceed to
Najd but he was told to go to India instead. He went on to say that his 8UCCC3-
sor, Hamid, has also been given an allowance of Its. 5,000 per mensem and that
r a Bum of Its. 12,000* has been allowed for all the chiefs’ families. # Ho ends by
I expressing the opinion- that the Shaikh as Well as Hamid liavo no power, and that
tho .British havo assumed sole control over the Finance Department of. Bahrein.
'bated 15th June 1023.
M C2G0FD—10*7»23—25—GMPS