Page 184 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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In Manama a mooting was held in the Jumna Mosque presided over by Ali
bin Khalifah who harangued a crowd of several hundred youths and boys. After the
meeting tho whole crowd entered tho bazaar and made a demonstration, ordering the
shops to shut. This was oxpected and tho Polico who according to their custom
wore doing tho usual Sunday march round the town had been kept in the Police
Station whore they changed their rifles for lathis. Tho Polico, including the
mounted section, cleared tho bazaar. There was a little fighting and some of the
youths and three or four of tho Police were slightly damaged but no bones wore
broken. A number of arrests were made and Ali bin Khalifah surrendered himself in
the evening. Tho bazaar was patrolled by Police and by some of His Highness’s
Arab retainers and within an hour normal conditions were resumed.
From tho time of the arrests thero were no more disturbances in Bahrain.
The prisoners wore tried in tho Bahrain and Agency courts, some were Persians and
tho majority of the others Howlis. Sentences ranging from one month hard labour
to 2J years hard labour followed by 2$ year exile, in the case of Ali bin Khalifah,
were imposed.
From the time the arrests were made the press compaign in the Arabic news­
papers rose to a crescendo of violence and vituperation to which was added wireless
propaganda from the Royal Palace in Baghdad. Much of the abuse was directed
against the Adviser who was described as an infamous dictator. The condition of
Bahrain was compared to that of Palestine and it was implied that Bahrain was
panting for protection from Iraq and fautastic descriptions were published about the
barbarous illtreatment of the political prisoners who in fact are considerably more
healthy than when they were admitted to jail. The press compaign continues.
The political unrest was caused by a number of reasons. It was combination
of conditions and circumstances the chief of them being nationalism, youth move­
ment and dissatisfaction with labour conditions all aggravated by wireless and press
propaganda and fomented by people who expected to reap personal advancement by
upsetting the existing administration. Undoubtedly it was an echo of events in
Palestine, Kuwait and Dubai.
At the end of the year, during the accession celebration, His Highness re­
ferred in a public speech to the recent disturbances. He deplored the behaviour of
a section of his subjects and assured the public that any reasonable suggestion for
reforms or improvements would be given thorough consideration by His Government
provided that it was put forward in a suitable and seemly manner.

General

Distinguished Visitors. H. R. H. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and
the^Earl of Athlone accompanied by Lord Frederic Cambridge and Mr. Gault, visited
Bahrain in March 1938 on their way to Europe from Saudi Arabia. They spent
several days in Bahrain, they were entertained by His Highness at Sakhir and they
visited the oil fields and other places of interest. His Highness presented Princess
Alice and Lord Athlone with a pair of Arab horses. This is the first time that a
member of the English Royal Family has visited Bahrain.
Other notable visitors during the year included:
Rear Admiral J. F. Somerville, C.B., D.S.O., Commander-in-Chief, East
Indies Squadron.
Rear Admiral Herbert Fitz-Herbert C.B., C.M.G., Flag Officer Royal Indian
Marine.
H. E. Shaikh Hafiz Wahaba, Saudian Minister to London.
The Honourable Colonel Sir Trenchard Fowle K.C.I.E., C. B. E.
H. E. The Vicar Apostolic of Arabia and Bishop of Gaza, Monsignor J. B
Tirinnanzi.
The Ruler of Dubai.