Page 695 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

693

1932

to take strong action against the ringleaders of this disturbance but he was terribly obstinate and wouldnt agree to
anything except dismissing one of the men from the Municipal council. He kept on saying that the fire was still
smouldering and if it blazed up again it would need a lot of men of war to quieten the row etc, all quite absurd, if he
had taken a strong line from the beginning there would never have been any fuss. He got rather angry about it but
would not agree to do anything. After talking for about two hours we came away. Played Bridge at Russells when we
got home and then to a dinner party at the de Greniers, a very boring show, a poor dinner and the roulette which I dont
care for.

Sunday 14th [February]

Office, very busy indeed, lots of people in to see me as the office has been closed for some days. The Shaikh went to
Muharrak. Went to the fort. Abdulla bin Ibrahaim came in and I talked to him about getting a job. Had de Grenier for
an hour and then Steele for about an hour to discuss customs and revenue and electric affairs. M went out to the
Shoreham to lunch on board. I was invited too but sent a message to say I was too busy to get away, which was true.
Motored in the afternoon and watched a football match with the Navy against our local team. In the evening we had
the two naval men who are doing the survey, Harrison and Perry, to dinner, and Major Holmes to meet them. Perry
played Bridge, a wonderfully good player too. Quite a pleasant little dinner party, Harrison, the older man, is a very
nice fellow. Perry is Welsh and I dont care for him much. A warmer day after some horrid cold weather.

Monday 15th February 1932

Lovely day, the weather for a few days has been ideal. The Shaikh came in in the morning, talked to him about taking
some measures about the leaders of the disturbances but as usual he was very loath to do anything, finally he told me to
discuss with Shaikh Abdulla sacking the man Abdu Ali Aliwat from the Municipal Council. Then he went up to his
house. Abdulla came along and we decided on it at once, Abdulla got quite violent about the Shaikh's behaviour, he
said he himself was all for forcible action and it was dangerous and absurd not doing something to punish the people,
just as we had fixed up about it a messenger from the Shaikh came in and whispered a long message in Shaikh
Abdulla's ear saying that The Shaikh thought it would be better not to do anything at present. Abdulla got very angry
so I said I would go up to the Shaikh's place and see him again. Went across to the Agency for some time and then
after lunch went up with the Shaikh and after a lot of talking persuaded him to agree to what we wanted. On my way
back I had the letter sent out telling the man he was dismissed. I also sacked a clerk in my office who was a relation of
one of the agitators rather a case of visiting the sins of the fathers on the sons but it is quite a recognised system here.
Did some gardening and went for a drive in the car. I discovered that the main reason why the Shaikh was unwilling to
dismiss the man from the Council was because he thought the man might come and see him and he disliked having an
unpleasant interview.

Tuesday 16th [February]

Meeting of Manama Municipal council. Quite a good meeting, they discussed putting in a telephone service in
Manama and perhaps across to Muharrak, this last would be a great convenience to everyone. Shaikh Abdulla seemed