Page 749 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

very relieved that I have got back so soon as some of the work he had to deal with was quite beyond him. He asked Fletcher
for some sort of concession for Mrs D.G. on the air line so I suppose she will come out by air on the first machine landing in
Bahrain which will make her crow a lot.

Monday [12 September]

I didnt attend the court as I had so many things to do. Spent a long time up at the Fort, I thought some of the Police looked a
bit sulky probably they have disliked being left to the mercy of the Indian officer who I have never trusted much. My new
recruits who are nearly all blacks are getting on well. In about a year I hope I shall have a really good Police Force almost
entirely black. Had a long talk with Fletcher about the draft Agreement submitted by the Imperial Airways for approval
between them and this Govt. I first discussed it with Welsh who agreed with me in thinking they took things too much for
granted and were asking too many concessions, which I dont mean to give them. Holmes and Russell came to lunch, the
former having arrived on the down mail, he was in very good form and got on well with Welsh and Fletcher. He stayed on till
nearly tea time talking to me about oil matters the other two having retired for a siesta, when he left several other people came
to call. In the evening we all dined with the Shaikh, quite a big party including all the Europeans here and all the flying people,
he put up the usual meal, three whole sheep and huge quantities of food all of which much impressed the visitors. We had
dinner in the big hall of the Palace and afterwards I invited them all round to my house for Bridge and drinks which they took
very liberally, there were about a dozen people but owing to the alteration to the drawing room it was not at all crowded. The
party left fairly early as the flying machines are leaving tomorrow morning early so they wanted to get to bed in good time.

Tuesday [13 September]

Meeting of the Manama Municipal Council, Shaikh Mohamed is back as President and seems more fatuous than ever, his visit
to London has not improved him. Not a very interesting meeting, when it was over we all went round to see a street that is
being widened and to try and settle an argument about some property, very hot in the sun. Went to the Police office afterwards
and interviewed a deputation of Jews who were very angry because Haenngi and his wife who live above their synagogue had
thrown water down on them. He is one of the American oil drillers and she was the Mission lady doctor. She had written to
me complaining of the noise but as the Jews had been there for thirty years and are now celebrating the Feast of atonement or
something I did not interfere. I assured the Jews that they would not be interfered with and sent for Major Holmes the head of
the Oil Coy and told him all about it. He was very angry indeed at the way his people had behaved. It is the usual American
idea that they can do anything anywhere as they are "God's own people". Wrote a very strong official complaint to Holmes.
The Shaikh looked in in the morning. Motored in the afternoon taking out the dogs who look very thin since I have been away.
The sweeper probably has been eating their food. Had dinner with Shaikh Mohamed out at the Portuguese Fort, it was quite
nice out there and nobody else except his sons, they were very full of questions about aeroplanes and very interested in it all,
he talked the whole time about his visit to England. He went first to the Hyde Park Hotel but finding it too dear took a flat at 8
Queens Gate. He was very enthusiastic about it all. He admired London very much, things he noticed were how that in hotels
and places like Lyons where there were crowds of people all together they made hardly any noise, so different, he said, to
Arabs who when in crowds make a din, also he was very impressed by the traffic control and lack of noise from motor horns,
and the kindness and politeness of London Policemen. He went to a lot of shows, the Aldershot Tatoo, Air Pageant, Zoo and
to the Royal Garden Party. He asked what was the difference between "How are you" and "How do you do" and why when he
said "How do you do" did people not answer the question but repeat what he said. He admitted that he wore European clothes