Page 867 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

865

1934

Thomas from the Shoreham called to say goodbye as he & most of the others are leaving when it when
she goes to Bombay to refit. A lot to do in the morning, interviewed a lot of people 7 a deportation of
merchants about rice. Lunched at Agency to meet Mallett who I rather liked though he has been very
weak over the Baredw incident & from all accounts he is too pro Persian. Had a long talk with him about
politics & the Persian Bahrain claim. He was very interesting in his description of the diplomatic
difficulties in Tehran. The Shah refuses to see any of the foreign ministers & the Persian ministers are
terrified of making any decisions so all the work gets hung up. the Shaikh paid an official call on the
SNO in the Shoreham and made strong verbal protest about the treatment of the ... in Persia. Mallett
seemed impressed. I had schooled the Shaikh about what to say all the way out and he said his piece
splendidly & it sounded quite impromptu. All the officers were in the SNO's cabin having come to say
goodbye to the Shaikh. We had the usual ceremony, guns firing salute, a guard of honour of 100 men and
the Police Band and ... lining the streets, an impressive sight. Really it was all staged to impress Mallett
and I am sure he was impressed. He thought the Police very smart & they certainly did their drill very
well. In the evening we wnt round to the Skinners & played Bridge. A lovely day but too hot for the time
of year.

Friday 16th [February]

Drove to the Enni Point & Biladya garden. Wrote letters & tennis at Agency, then bridge at the Bank.
Loch was ill in bed.

Saturday 17th Feb 1934