Page 378 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

going to Geneva and then taking up quite a different attitude & complaining against the English & asking for full
independence. He said he didnt think he would do it, I said I thought he might. The Resident continues to be terribly
pompous & constantly says he must write dispatches to London about each `conversation'. It is all extremely difficult
& worrying. In the bazaar there are the wildest rumours; that Hamed is deposed & Isa returning & every sort of absurd
story. There is also a violent anti Persian feeling & I should not be surprised if there was a real row, it would clear the
air a lot! Other tribes are said to be joining the raiding shaikhs on Irak border.

Thursday 15th [March]

Both Parke & de G called during the morning. Told Parke that Isa had objected to the Police & all of us. de G had
interviewed the P.R. who had buttered him up & said wait & see till all this Persia business is over & it may be
possible that things will be changed. Another meeting of the Shaikhs in the afternoon. Mohamed brought news that
Isa agreed to write a letter, he brought the draft, quite suitable but nothing about protection as the PR had sent message
early to say not to put it in. PR told me he found that he had greatly exceeded his instructions in the matter of the
Persian business & he also told the Shaikhs this - a quite unnecessary & foolish thing to tell them. Mohamed also read
the letter from the Shaikhs to the League of Nations. The Shaikh was less unhappy. People to tea & Bridge. PR
ordered release of Koseibi's clerks who were in prison for the motor accident. Another sop to Bin Saoud.

Friday 16th March

Took some photos in the house in the morning, 40 sec & 16 aperture. Hope they come out well. Then went down the
o
bazaar & took some more. Called on de Grenier. Very hot day, 80 at lunch time in the hall. Wrote letters. We have
quite a lot of flowers in the room now, lovely rose coloured oleanders, cosmos & nasturtians & yellow daisies or small
sunflowers.

Tennis at Agency. Had an hour's talk with Resident first. He approved of the tutor being brought.

Yesterday he talked of the Khalid case and is going to let the murderers come back - entirely wrong in my
opinion. Played Bridge. Sh Abdulla came in. A letter from Bin Saoud agreeing to come down to Hasa & meet the
P.R. I should love to go.

Saturday 17th [March]

Court in the morning. Meeting of merchants at the Agency. Hamed b subah called to complain about behaviour of the
Meglis Urfi & the Agency clerk Mirza Ali. Paid out Eid allowance. A little rain. Went to the garden. Moved
cornflower seedlings & then went up to the Fort & met Parke returning so went in there for some time. Dinner at the
Agency, rather stuffy. The P.R. acts as if he was the King & talks in a pompous way the whole time, Holmes & de G
were there. Mail arrived, a very poor one. The P.R. is remaining on & has ideas of going to meet Bin Saoud on
mainland. I should love to go too if they go across.

Sunday 18th [March]