"ملف 8/16 تقارير استخباراتية بشأن البحرين" [و‎‎٩‎٩] (٤٣٢/١٩٧)

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as Kuler of Bahrain if all the family would, support him.
Shaikh ho ham ad bin ‘Isa must have been tol^ of the arrang iment,
for ? immediately after Shaikh Hamad f s death, when members of
the family assembled at Rumaitha, he announced that Shaikh Sal
man would succeed Shaikh Hamad and asked whether anyone had
any objection. The members of the family present, seeing that
Shaikh Salman had the support of his two uncles, gave their
unanimous consent to his succession*
Meanwhile there was lying in the vaults of the Bah
rain branch of the Eastern Bank a deed signed by Shaikh Hamad
appointing Shaikh Salman as his successor. The contents of
this deed were unknown to any member of the A1 Khalifah: nor
did the A1 Khalifah khow that Shaikh Hamad had in fact appoint
ed a successor. This deed was taken to Shaikh Salman on the
evening of February 20th. Knowledge of its contents soon be
came general and helped greatly to consolidate Shaikh Salman^s
new position*
On February 21st I paid condolence visits to Shaikh
Salman bin Hamad, Shaikh Mohammad bin ‘Isa, Shaikh Abdullah bin
‘Isa and Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammad (father-in-law of Shaikh
Hamad) *
On the morning of February 22nd Shaikh Salman visited
me accompanied by his two uncles and Mr*Belgrave, Adviser to
•&he Bahrain Government. Shaikh Salman informed me that his
succession to his father had the unanimous approval of his
family and subjects; and he assured me in unequivocal terms
of his friendship for the British Government and of his deter
mination to respect existing treaties and engagements.
In the afternoon of February 22nd Shaikh Salman issued
a proclamation announcing that, in conformity with the behest
of his late father and with the unanimous consent of his
uncles, his brothers and all his tribe, he had become the
Ruler of Bahrain. The proclamation contained the following
words "I shall continue to strengthen the proved ties with
the British Empire and shall always maintain its friendship”.
The succession of Shaikh Salman has been accepted by
all sections of the Bahrain community. Shaikhs Mohammad and
Abdullah intend to b^jfpowers behind the throne”* Shaikh
Salman is not popular with his younger brothers but none of
them is in a position l£o dispute his authority. Other members
of the Khalifah family accept Shaikh Salman as being the
right and proper successor to Shaikh Hamad. The Baharina are
relieved that Shaikh Salman, rather than Shaikh Mohammad or
Shaikh Abdullah, has become the Ruler; and only the young
bloods of the town (who are anti-British in sentiment) are
disgruntled about Shaikh 3alman f s succession.
As Shaikh Salman has asked Mr.Belgrave to remain as
Adviser to the Bahrain Government, violent upheavals in the
administration are unlikely . It is possible, however, that
friction will be caused inside the Khalifah family when the
thrfjhy problem of dividing Shaikh Hamad* s large estate is
taken up.
Shaikh Salman*s succession has been formally recognised
by His Majesty r s Government and the Government of India.
25. Econom ic
(i) Reference paragraph 17 (iii) of Intelligence Summary
No*3 of 1942*