Page 811 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Hindus anxious to alter existing weight. Then got back to breakfast. Went to see the Shaikh in the afternoon.
He sent for me to talk about oil matters and complained very bitterly of the whole position & at being kept
on such distant terms with Holmes. Hinted very slightly that possibly H might have to go at which the Shaikh
was extremely upset and evidently wont stand for that if he can prevent it. He was very human & really very
upset at the idea that the letter we wrote about Holmes could possibly have the effect of causing him to be
moved. Tennis party as usual. Had a special court in morning, estate of Abdel Rahman. Holmes stayed on
some time, he has evidently heard nothing about latest moves from London for shifting him.

Thursday 31st [August]

Office. Very busy day. Van Peussem came to see me complaining at his boy being detained, spent an hour &
half cross examining the boy. Police Station. Went to Muharraq in the afternoon with Steele & inspected
taxi cars, found them fairly good. We went over by launch at 4.15 & it was very nice & cool on the water.
Dinner party at Skinners, Holmes came round before dinner having had letter from his London office by air
mail - very clever, they said nothing about any complaints but only said that India Office insisted on his
remaining 9 months out of 12 in Bahrain, he cant do this as he has big interest in the Kuwait concession so
they have got him both ways. He was very angry about it but not I think really surprised. Ayesha called on
M. Big dinner at Skinners but rather a difficult party. Skinner very ill at ease as he evidently knows
something is going on about Holmes and doesnt know what I do. Also he is having a violent affair with Mrs
Russell & thinks we disapprove very much, it doesnt interest me one way or the other. Mohamed Ali Zaynal
arrived by air & called but I was out. All this oil business is a great worry & very difficult for me as I see all
sides of it and it is not easy to avoid being prejudiced one way or the other. The Brit Govt want one thing,
the Shaikh wants another & Holmes wants another and the Shaikh's wishes are not what the B G approves of,
entirely personally I am inclined to think it would be best to let the Shaikh have his way a bit more. All this
has made him and his relations very bitter and it has harmed the credit of the Agency a lot which is a pity, but
not our fault. The Shaikh is really very attached to Holmes and does want him to stay here as Representative
of the oil Coy and the Agency dont want this.

Friday 1st [September]

Didnt go out in morning. Agency party as usual. Gastrell showed me a letter from Holmes, quite a sensible
one, saying he had a letter from London Office from which it seemed likely he would have to go.

Saturday 2nd [September]

Fort. Court. Abdulla called, talked oil & Major Holmes for an hour, he is very clever & very angry about it all.
He argued that it was unfair of the B Govt to make things difficult for us with Holmes and the American Coy
because the B. Govt themselves had allowed the original Coy to sell the concession to the Americans. Cool
day. Motored to Rafaa. Gastrell came in after dinner with Holmes' letter to the Shaikh which he gave me to
deliver.