Page 13 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

The Ruling Family 403
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consultation with Her Majesty's Government in everything and I
have alv/ayu regarded these expressions us sincere. Moreover
they have not only boon made publicly but privutely to you and
to me. With this one exception his actions have accorded with
his words. In the light of Shuikh Khalifa's protest I think
the chief explanation i3 that Shuikh Salman, faced with his
impending vioit to Saudi Arabia, decided to appoint Shaikh Isa
us his heir and did so without consulting uo because he thought
we might have either tried to stop him doing so altogether or
have shown support for Shuikh Khalifa. He therefore wished to
present us with an accomplished fuct. Shaikh Sulmun hus never
yet discussed the succession with either of us though several
of the lauding merchants of Bahrain ruised the question with me
after my return from leave last year. The burden of whut they

said was that whoever succeeded Shaikh Salman it must not be
cither Shaikh Khulifu bin Moharnod or Shaikh DaiJ. My reply was
that it seemed probable that the eldest son would succeed to
Liu; Sheikhdom in accordance with custom and that the matter
would no doubt be decided by the Shaikh in due course, It is
quite possible that my views were repeated buck to the Shaikh
who then acted in the expectation that wo would acquiesce in
what he had done, lie is fully aware of the aspirations of the
other two claimants. A further explanation may be the fact
that Shaikh Sulmun is under u certain amount of general pressure
(
from all sides for being too much in the British pocket
particularly in recent years and this offered an easy (and safe)
way - in his own estimation — of displaying a certain independ-
once of action. He may also have realised that by making the
/ appointment .........

CONFIDENTIAL