'ملف رقم 19/169 III (C 80) الإصلاحات في البحرين' [و‎‎٥‎١] (٣٧٨/١١٤)

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agitation and such like. I do not say tuat sucn demonatrations
wmld altogether cease if a Council were establianed, but tney
would be less likely, and if tney did occur the Bahrain Govern
ment, having given a constitutional safety valve, would be in a
stronger p(Bitic® to deal with the® than they are at present.
Moreover in modern conditions in Bahrain it seems tome that
distinctly the best way for the Shaikh and his family to Keep
in touch with the people of their State would be through a
Council which, even though nominated and not elected, would •
if wisely chosen - reflect local public opinion.
(d) {l) In these days people are not content with a govern
ment, however good and efficient it may be, unless they have
some hand in it themselves. To use the well-worn clionet '♦Good
government is no substitute for self-government. Tne old
Government of India was undoubtedly good and efficient, in fact
a benevolent autocracy, but that did not prevent our having to
change it to self-government.
(2) There is moreover this aspect to be considered.
Until a few years ago the Bahrain Government was very badly
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off, and where there is little to expend there cannot be much
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criticism over expenditure. Mow, however, in addition to its
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revenue from other sources, it is in receipt of a large income
t r oil r oy i 01« it b gtp par cut s 0110 y e bm 0
that a considerable revenue would result from oil, Loch - who
was then Political Agent, Bahrain - proposed tnat we should
approach the Shaikh and suggest that a certain proportion of the
royalties should be given over by him to tne state. The Shaikh
readily agreed and out of the total revenue from this source of
about £ 260,000 gives £ 170,000 per annum to tne State, keeping
/ the