Page 11 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

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The Ruling Family 401
CONFIDENTIAL

l(o, Shaikh Khalifa, v/uu not prepared to regard the uppointrnont
uu Gettling the succession which could only bo decided after
Shaikh Salman*n death. When taxed v/.L Lli the fact that Sha ikh
Abdullu bin Isa and Shuikh DaijbLn llamed had accepted the
appointment in advance, us already mentioned above, Shaikh
Khalifa replied that they had agreed to it unwillingly and with
reservations. How far all thio ia true is difficult to say.
No doubt Shaikh Abdulla and Shaikh Duij would in any case Gay
to Shaikh Khalifa that they were obliged to agree with Shaikh
Salman*g proposal, in order to run with both sides. Shaikh
Khalifa will naturally blow his own trumpet in thio matter with
all energy and will make out that he has more support than he

in foot has. The Secretary to the Bahrain Government, Mr.
G.W.R. Smith, tells me that when Shaikh Abdullu told him that
Shaikh Salman had consulted him and Shaikh Duij before the
appointment wan mude, Shuikh Abdulla did not uppear to be
opposed to the appointment and did not uppear dissatisfied about
it. Nor has he yet expressed any views against it to Mr. Smith
which might have been expected since Shaikh Abdullu discusses
a good many things with the Secretary to the Government. Shaikh
Khulifa however forgets that, apart from what the A1 Khalifa may
think, or pretend, und I think it cun be taken that a minority
only support him, from his own fumily, public opinion among the
rest of Bahrainis io against him. Indeed I have no doubt thut
if there were any serious likelihood of his succeeding Shaikh
Salmun whether by force or by intrigue, the rest of Bahrain out­ :
side the ruling family would uppeal to us to prevent it und ask
!
uu to support Shaikh Isa. Shaikh Khalifa is also in a weak

position since lie is dependent for his living expenses, outside
the official uulary he draws as Director of Police and Public
Security, on Shaikh Salmun who is fairly generous to him. He
lias given him about £40,000 in the last year to buy a motor
launch in Europe, which is no more than a toy and not by uny
/meuns • • •
CONFIDENTIAL