Page 808 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Lock saying that the Shaikh was not to be allowed to have a meeting with Holmes. I think it is most ill advised
of Lock to take this line as it shows that the British Govt is not impartial, very foolish. The more I see of the
matter the worse the B. Govt seems to be behaving. They are not even honest.

Saturday [19th August]

Went up to see the Shaikh. I went ahead, Abdulla & Sulman were present. When I arrived there were about
100 people sitting in the meglis, mostly very jungly Bedus who came across to cadge for money. When the
Shaikh sent them away I told him that Gastrell got a wire and had told Holmes not to come & see the Shaikh.
The Shaikh didnt seem to understand but Sulman & Abdulla were very annoyed and said that now the
Agency was showing in every way that it was opposed to the American just because the APOC wanted to get
in. They both talked very freely. Gastrell arrived and I told them what he said. Gastrell came back to the
office afterwards so I was very late in the Court. Sent a set of the new Bahrain surcharged stamps to King
George. I composed a letter from the Shaikh to the King, rather a good letter. I think they are behaving very
badly over the oil business. Motored after tea.

Sunday 20th [August]

Court. In the afternoon we went with Holmes for a long drive out to no 5 well on to Amr and round the
circle, a lovely afternoon & quite cool. We had a picnic tea under the cliffs, altogether a very pleasant
expedition.

Monday [21st August]

Another interview with the Shaikh about oil. Took Gastrell up. He had a draft of a letter supposed to be from
the Shaikh which he had to persuade the Shaikh to agree to, we argued for a long time and tried to alter the
wording but eventually agreed to let it go. The draft came out from London, by wire, from India Office. They
are certainly rubbing the Shaikh's nose in the mud over the business. He is not being allowed to have any
opinion of his own. At home it seems to be considered a big matter as they are spending hundreds of
pounds on telegrams every month. Went to the Customs and the Police Station. In the afternoon M & James
& Nanny went over to Muharraq to call on Shaikh Abdulla's wife who lives out in a garden beyond the town.
I went up to the Fort & took some gramaphone records of marches for the band to try, then was in the
garden. Nice cool day again.

Tuesday [22nd August]

Office, customs. Played Bridge at the Steeles after tea, very boring as I cut out & found it dull sitting outside
listening to would-be flirtatious conversation between Mrs Russell & Gastrell & others. The people here now