Page 294 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

596 Records of Bahrain

bo made cautiously und in a gradual mannor;
(2) that wo cannot tako a
definite decision as to our future policy in this matter
until wo soe whether, and on what scale, tho American

intrusion materialises; -uU/’*--/- 6 tL,m
(3) that our general policy Bhould bo directed
towardb replacing the Europeans in the service of tho
Sheikh by Bahreinis at as early a date as is roasonably
possible, and that tho Indian police force at present
maintained in the islands should, if posBiblo, be
roplaced by Sudanese on the expiry of their contracts in
1931; A-Mx*. A fc.^
(v, )
(4) that no expectations of indefinitely prolonged
service should be encouraged in the European officers
concerned. It may be remarked in thiB connection that •
the Commandant of Police is probably^tho first to go: if
• the American "invasion" comes to nothing it will probably
be possible to dispense with him in 1931. From paragraph
16 of Colonel Barrett's letter it will bo soon that he
does not anticipate that it will be possiblo to dispense
with the Financial Adviser before at least 1942, and
that, in tho case of the Director of Customs, it will
take at least sevon years from tho present date to train

a substitute. Quite clearly the wholo position as regarc s
tho retention of these officers will largely depend on tx
coming of the Oil Company, and tho scale of its oporatior s.
The internal administration of Bahrein is tho
business of this Office and tho Government of India. But,
in view of tho reactions of the correspondence on general
questions of policy in tho Gulf, it will, I suggest, bo
desirable to give tho Foreigi Office and Colonial Office
^•'opportunity to comment before a decision is conveyed to
*t}ie- Government of India. I suggest a draft letter.
WV' Lg.u&~
;vv.

imu