Page 221 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

Further reforms, 1924-1927 209

D.O. No. 487-S.

The Residency,
!
Bushire, 26th August 1924*

I Bend you herewith copies of a D.O. letter which
I have received from Latimer on the subject of the Bahrain
reforms, and my reply.
It is clear that the Government of India, having
launched the "Reforms",are willing to man the ship, steer her

a safe course and take measure to prevent her sinking.
But they are not out to build a fleet ! From this I
mean to convey that.reasonable measures to secure the even
progress of the reforms towards a moderately conceived
pbjective are likely to meet with the full sympathy of the

Government of India. But anything beyond this, anything
in the nature of a new departure, involving commitments for
the Government of India, is sure to meet with opposition.
Shaikh Hamad, I take it, at present holds all the
rein^s of Government in his own hand. Io there a lik^ihood

of his delegating any powers in the near future to e. competent
Cabinet of indigenous Ministers, or even to one Vazir.?
Have you any observations to make regarding the
reforms already introduced and those contemplated ?

fyor C. K. Daly, I.A.,
Political Agent,
Bahrain.