Page 177 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 167

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In my opinion, moro especially at tlio presont timo, wo require our
roprosontativo at Bahrain to bo a man who is already in possession of certain
ossontinl qualifications for tlio appointmont. Whether it will ho possiblo to
find such an ofllcor of tlio graded list I do not know.
Tlio conditions of service at Bahrein must also bo taken into consideration.
Tlio climato for sovoral months of tlio year is, on account of its extreme
moisture, oxcoodingly trying to tlio European constitution : tlio work is hardly
sufficient to keop an officer fully omploycd, and there is an entire abscnco of
any of tlioso amonities of existence which rnako lifo ondurablo in oven tho
moro solitary of Indian stations. What I fear is that, if a gazetted officer
is appointed to tho post, ho will not bo contont to remain in it for any length
of timo, and wo shall liavo a constant cliango of officers which cannot but bo
prejudicial to tho interests of the place.
4i. I would liko to avail myself of this opportunity of again referring to
the question of tho appointment of a British subject as Director'of tho Bahrein
Customs. Such an appointmont would undoubtedly bo highly dcsirablo from
tho point of view of tho Chief’s own interests and of tho prosperity of tho
islands. It is from this point of viow that I considor tho chaugo so dcsirablo,
moro than on account of tho offoct which has boon suggested, of giving tho
Turks a moro matorial proof of our authority over tho islands. Our action
with regard to tho islands on sovoral provious occasions, and tho recent
appointmont of a Political Officor, coupled with our formal recognition of tho
Chiof’s eldest son as his successor, can leavo no room for any reasonable doubt
in the mattor. I do not mean to say that tho appointmont of a British subject
as Director of tho Customs might not havo a furthor usoful effect in this
direction, but it is, I think, chiefly from tho point of Yiow above alludod to by
mo that tho quostion should bo considered.