Page 1540 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1942

Sunday 22nd February

BULL

Shaikhs came in. Sulman sat, as his father did, in my chair, a sign of his
position. Long discussion about HH's document & other matters, Sh M did all the
talking, Sh A sat watching & Sh S seemed rather oppressed by Sh M's flow of,
mostly, platitudes. They all three said they wished me to stay on at my job & Sh
S said he wished James to succeed me when I left. Then to the Agency, a somewhat
difficult call, the main object was for the uncles to tell W that Sh S was
unanimously elected and also Sh S assured W that he would continue in the way of
his father & regard as binding all the agreements between Sh H & the Brit Govt.
They all three spoke very freely of me and said they wished me to remain in the
job. Then back to the office where we drafted a Proclamation, at my suggestion &
eventually they left. Told how HH's favourite wouldnt eat & constantly
returned to Rumaitha. Spent a long time translating the proclamation & all the
afternoon in the office working at various things. Crowds of telegrams arrived &
had to be dealt with. Cabled the Times about Sulman succeeding.

Took a drive in afternoon.

Monday 23rd February

Fort.

In the office all the morning. A lot of people came in to condole & I got several
letters & cables. People are being very nice about it all. Sheafs of telegrams
keep on arriving. M spent morning calling on the Khalifah houses, a weary
business, very tiring. Drove pm. T.Ts came in after tea for some time.

Tuesday 24th February

Fort.