Page 5 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

The Ruling Family 395
CONFIDENTIAL British Residency,

No. 37 (1941) BAHRAIN. i
March 17, 1958.

Sir,
With reference to Mr Gault's letter to Mr. Riches
No. 1016/1/58 of February 3 last I have the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of a despatch from Mr. Gault regarding the
appointment of Shaikh Isa bin Salman as Heir Apparent in

Bahrain.
2. I agree generally with Mr, Gault's conclusions. I agree
in particular that there is no likelihood of Shaikh Khalifa bin
Mohamed working against the Ruler. The criticism which he

expressed to me, on a strictly personal basis, of the Ruler's
action in nominating Shaikh Isa seemed intended partly to give
vent to his not unnatural annoyance at this step having been
taken behind his back, and partly to put it on record with us
that he would not necessarily regard himself as bound by this

action when the time actually came for a new Ruler to take over.
I shall be surprised however if even then he is able or willing
to mount any effective opposition to Shaikh Isa's succession.
I have since been informed by a reliable Bahraini merchant,

who is in particularly close touch with Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa,
the Ruler's uncle, that contrary to what Shaikh Khalifa told
me to the effect that Shaikh Abdullah had only agreed to the
appointment of Shaikh Isa unwillingly, Shaikh Abdullah had in
fact welcomed it without reservation. The same source was

however of the opinion that Shaikh Da'ij, the Ruler's brother,
had been upset by the Ruler's action.

The Right Honourable /3.
Selwyn Lloyd, C.B.E., M.P.,
etc., et., etc, ,
FOREIGN OFFICE,
S.W.l.
CONFIDENTIAL