Page 70 - Records of Bahrain (4) (ii)_Neat

372 Records of Bahrain
The Agency, Bahrain.
Confidential.
9th May 1930
No. 52-C.
To
The Secretary to the Hon'ble the Political Resident,

in the Persian Gulf, Bushire.

Memorandum.

Please refer to your memorandum No. I28-S dated
the 13th March 1931.

2. I would be glad if you would inform the Hon'ble
the Political Resident that I have heard no recent complaints

of the illtreatment of Bahama ( or rather Bahrainis ) by
the Nejd authorities, and it is clear that Bin Saud has rea­
lised that it is better to keep the cow alive and milk it
rather than kill it by harsh treatment.
3. There appears little doubt, however, that these

unfortunate people, particularly the Bahama or older settler
who are now considered as Nejd subjects, are gradually being
! dispossessed of their lands and that these are being bought
' up by Sunni capatalists, notably the ubiquitous Qusaibis.
:
It is impossible for us to intervene in such a matter, nor
:
is it now expected of us, public opinion being amply satisfied
with the return of Ahmed bin Abbas to his relatives, last year
for which H.M.Government received the credit.
4. Now that the Hedjaz Government no longer *brk fear

that we are attempting to assert control over the Bahama
the whole situation is easier, and genuine Bahrainis are not
interfered with and their nationality papers are respected.
5. I fully agree with the view expressed in para 3
;
of Sir Andrew Ryan's despatch No. 60 dated the 10th of Feb­
! i
i
ruary, namely that it is better not to take the matter up
diplomatically so long as a local modus vivendi can be arrang­
ed, and there is no doubt that the moment an attempt was made