Page 236 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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BESS PROPOGANDA.

Bahrain has as usual attracted considerable attention
during the year in the local Arab and Persian press current

in this part of the Near East, Most of the criticisms have
been of a hostile nature especially those emanating from

Egypt.
The following are some of the most pointed remarks which
indicate the nature of the various newspaper articles.
"AL-OMRAN" Egyptian Arabic Review (Safor 1349)

The Ruler of Bahrain is Shaikh Hamed bin Isa alKhalifah
who was appointed by the British, to act in the place of
his father”Shaikh Isa (who is still alive) as he was
too old and not fit to rule the people. 7/hen he (Shaikh
Isa) 7/as managing the affairs of” this unfortunate country
he used to cancel his .orders immediately if they were not
approved of by any of his sons. His sons used to quar­
rel and fight with each other in order to gain power,
this fact led to an anarchic state of affairs; when the
British saw this, they removed him. (Shaikh Isa) and
appointed his son Shaikh Earned in nis place.
Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifah. the Shaikh of Bahrain
is ef 50 years of. age. He is the Sheikh of Bahrain in.
name, .but not in'reality, as the management of the affairs
of this country is in the hands of the Adviser and.British
Consul (Political Agent). He (Shaikh Hamed) receives
a monthly allowance of £ 700/-. The inhabitants are
very uleasea with the justice administered by the said
Adviser and want no one to rule them other than the British
* Shaikh. Hamed does not know any language, hut he can.read
and v/rite Arabic. He is in the habit of passing witty
renerks and talking much. He is very sincere to the
exalted.British Government and prays inwardly and openly
for their glory and existence.
^The members of al-Khalifah receive large allowances from
the State without doing any service to the State whatsoever.
It would have been better if these west were spent 0p.rp“..L
forms, as the State is in need of many reforms for which it
is in need of money.

#There are many big pearl merchants in Bahrain, but it is
regreted that they spend nothing of whet they have collect
ed in the interests of their country*
*The majority of the Arabs in Bahrain are sincere to His
Hajeste bin Saufl the King of Eijaz Najd and dependencies.
They (the Arabs) pray always for the glory and progress oi
his country. They say that Ibn Saud is npt the King
Hijaz and Najd alone, but that he is the King of
Arabs. Undoubtedly he is the man v/ho sprang among tne |ff|
Arabs and is looked upon as the most prominent person#

Both Persian and Arabic papers commented on the question

I