'File 19/218 (C 84) Bahrain Succession' [‎18r] (37/210)

3. i sad expected, bb indicated in my letter «o. c Jo4-^ of
22nd December laat, that the presentation of the Kharita An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. wo .la ce
appreciated. Its reception, however, exceeded my anticipations.
Shaikh Hamad was indeed most grateful tor it, ami I ieel s^re that
the letter which 1 enclose is a sincere expression of his feelings,
and not merely tne conventional ooBBunication cal eJ lot by
occasion. The people off Baiirain too displayed mucn interest
in tne Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , a crowd of some thousands collecting outside tne
Efll where it was held, while the town was en fete for tnree
days. There is little doubt tnat the public recognition of an
Sxcellency as Ruler has consolidated His position, while he him
self is personally popular with his subjects. it is to be
regretted that - as X pointed out in my letter of 17tii December
last, No.926-S - His xixcelj enoy lacks tiiose qualities whicn
would make him respected and feared as a Jheikh in adciitioii >.o
being liked as a man.
4 # in the course of tne speech which I made before
presenting the JUmrita, I took tne opportunity, besides ocnrtyin^
to the Shaikh assurances ot txie friendship oi the uovernwent ol
India and of myself, of reviewing briefly the financial and
general position of the State, of congratulating .lis .xcelxency
on certain economies which he had recently effected, and - with,
out being unduly pessimistic - of emphasising the fact txiat even
further economies might be necessary in the future. It is an
unfortunate fact that the number of indiriduals outside tne A1
Khalifa family who realise the seriousness ol the 1 inaneial
position ol the State is small. 13oth Colonel . och and 1 tuere-
fore considered that some remarks of this tenor would be bene
ficial as likely to strengthen the hand of the Shaikh with
regard to such economies as he had already effected^ or which
it mijht be necessary for his Government to carry out in the
future, ....