Page 424 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

unsuitable that he should shove it onto the Political Agent unless it was a matter concerning foreigners. Abdulla is a
very shrewd man and sizes people up in no time. Went along to the Joint Court. The Shaikh sent for me though I saw
no reason for his wanting me. A tiresome old religious party called Hussein al Menai was there, an aged gentleman
with a long white beard, given to shouting but with a reputation for great sanctity. he and others were mixed up in a
quarrel that ended in a row between their servants and several minor injuries. The Shaikh made peace between them,
talked to them like a father and made them, literally, kiss eachother and make friends again. He is very good at scenes
of that sort. Busy in the office till lunch time. Tea and tennis at Mespers. Parke had been out early yesterday to say
goodbye to the Shaikh who gave him a bisht, like the one he wears. He was very pleased with it. Dined with de G.
Parke was there, staying the night as the boat was due at 5 A.M. on the Thursday. I never quite trust de G's dinners.
The cook is such a very messy looking fellow, a Persian, and lives in a very dirty Persian village where all the coolies
were deported from Manama by Daly. They call it Thulma bad, meaning the village of oppression, but its official
name is Adilabad, the pleasant village. When I first came here, only hearing the first name, I mentioned the name in a
proclamation, rather a faux pas. A little rain. Ali bin Hussain came in the morning. He talked of the increasing
influence of Koseibi, Ibn Saouds Agent. Its a pity that the Shaikh is so terrified of Ibn Saoud.

Thursday 21st March

Court. Didnt get up till 2 PM. Discussed the nationality and passport question with Sulman. Drove out round by Suk
al Khamis and then went to the Biladya garden. People to tea and Bridge. The new Bank Manager arrived. A very
`commercial' little man, youngish with reddish hair, very much a bank clerk. However he plays Bridge. People to tea
and Bridge. After dinner Barrett asked me to go across to talk about important business. The two questions were a
proposal of our Ambasador in Persia that we should let the Persians have a consul here. I am entirely against the idea,
no point in making any concessions to them and a consul here would be a most dangerous idea, a centre for intrigue
and in every way a thorn in our side. The other point was who do I think most suitable to succeed Barrett. Most
probably Barrett will be asked by the Resident when he goes up to Bushire to see the Resident next week. Dickson
wrote to him asking for his help. He is very keen on coming here. Dickson said that the other alternative was Alban.
We discussed the question till midnight. Finally agreed that Alban is too young and we neither of us are quite certain
that we can trust Dickson, and the most suitable man would be Prior, who was First Secretary. Of course there may be
no idea of Prior coming here, still I like him and I think he would be good as Political Agent. Dickson is very capable,
talks Arabic like a native, but is too Arab in his way of thinking. He was born in the Levant and is said to have a touch
of a Levantine about him, still he is very keen and very widely experienced. Had a good talk about people here.
Barrett's opinion of Parke is that he is a good Police Officer but not the smallest use as an assistant to me or to act for
me. It will be rather funny if it turns out that I have had a finger in settling the appointment of the new Political Agent.
Of course Dickson is at Bushire, on the spot, and so has a pull. He is nice enough himself, but I personally should
prefer a man who had never been here before. Dickson was here a year, and then 6 months on a special mission.
Dickson has just been promoted to Colonel.

Friday [22 March]

Shaikh Mohamed told me yesterday that he was coming to call at nine oclock in the morning. At half past he sent a
message to say that he was coming, but was at the Agency for a few minutes, he didnt arrive till after eleven. He talked
about the question of the Consul. There is to be a conference on the subject at the Agency tomorrow morning. His
ideas and arguments are very sound. He began worrying about some private business of his own. Went down the