'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summary' [‎58r] (115/174)

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With the lifting of the cares of State from his
shoulders the health of Shaikh Abdulla is reported to be inuch
improved 9 On September 11 an American Missionary doctor
was called to him because he seemed to be seriously ill and
to have lost the power of speech. His condition was diagnosed
as a surfeit of camel meat.
One incident ruffled the course of affairs in the
early part of the month when Shaikh Abdulla asked for the
money supplied by the Oil Company for the payment of the
guards and was given it by Shaikh Ali and Saleh al Mani 1 .
When the Political Officer remonstrated with Shaikh Ali
he claimed to have recovered the money from his father.
As the Qatari authorities raised the question of
appointing a police officer the permission of the Shaikh of
Bahrain was obtained to the secondment from Bahrain of
Inspector Cochrane who arrived in Doha to take up his ap
pointment on September 3. After Shaikh Ali had recovered
from his surprise at so speedy an arrival he authorised
the recruiting of 15 men to start with. The available ma
terial is quite raw and untrained.
The Shaikh of Bahrain offered Qatar thirty
rifles and ammunition as a loan until they could import
their own. For some reason which is not yet clear Shaikh
Ali wished to refuse this offer but was dissuaded by the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. while in Doha from giving such gratuitous
offence to the Shaikh of Bahrain.
75 rifles and 7,000 rounds of ammunition have
been ordered on behalf of Qatar who are jibbing at the
price.
Meanwhile' interest is centred in some 450 rifles
that the former ruler acquired in 1939 and for which he
recently obtained ammunition. The rifles are presumably,
in what sort of condition is not known, with Shaikh Abdulla
in Riyan although both Shaikh Ali and Saleh al Mani’ denied the
existence of any serviceable rifles in the peninsula.
A check on the rifles in the possession of the
guards at Dukhan is proceeding.
Mr. Allcard's visit (see paragraph 133 (ii))
was in connexion with (a) the unloading of cargo in Qatar
hitherto done by Bahrainis carried there for that specific
purpose. Shaikh Ali wishes the work, which is semi-skilled,
to be done exclusively by Qataris and (b) the opening a branch
of the firm in Doha.
137. TRUCIAL COAST A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .
F/0 J.E. Dagnall, Officer Commanding, Royal
Air Force, Sharjah, having handed over to F/0 R.J.F. Dickson,
left by air on the 31st.
During the period under report the Petroleum 1
Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ) Ltd. survey party returned to
the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and commenced seismic survey operations
at Abu Dhabi territory, the M/V 'Jasura' having arrived at
Khor Ghanadha and landed vehicles, instruments and equipment.
On the
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