Page 49 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

Great Britain: policy 439

hao boon ablo to shelter behind tho British
connexion ond bccauoo his administration con­
tains many British subjects. You suggest that
in future wo should attribute to the Ruler'o
wisdom actions which lie had agreed to take conse­
quent upon our advice, but should make it known
when our advice has been disregarded, I can see
the advantages of this suggestion, particularly
as a means of pressure on the Ruler, At the
came time, however, I am concerned lest such
tactic's should have the effect of undermining
Z
o the position of the Ruling Family and with it,
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X perhaps, the security of our bane in Bahrain. I
z
Cl have, Moreover,jin tho pact stated in. Parliament
H
o that I was not prepared to give details of .•
\
C3
vm \ advice given to the Ruler of Bahrain on hie in-
lie. /J-
$ boiiml affairs, and I think that/I must maintain
2 4
1 -v’ ■>- ( c iv* , t(( this pc altion publicly, since otherwise Il.M.G.
m
Z
CtVASf pray be held responsible in tnic country for ohort-
Z (v jeontinge of the Duhrain administration. Tho
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X jhicasurcs for publicising the Ruler's disregard
£ K+tj*:u ty- i
z /ivA^ fo .for our liberal \dvice which you propose, there­
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73 fore, would have to be used most sparingly and
Cl i ♦'*'*•) i i .
Z discreetly. jfJ ! ■
io^/L. similar considerations apply to contacts
ot%'4
'Cal k/ sy Your Excellency and other members of your
AiS//vy u4
M'(-| t staff with reformist elements in Bahrain. While
4., k " I hope that you occasionally, and tho other
members of your otalT more regularly, will keep
0*1 ’/t|
in touch with would-be reformists, I am impressed
'l.* «Y
by the experience of 1930 in Kuwait and 1950 in
Bahrain, with the danger that the attention paid
/ to