"ملف 8/16 تقارير استخباراتية بشأن البحرين" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٥] (٤٣٢/٣٨٩)

/ 229.
Manager <,
This may bo a lesson to us for the future,,
"Do you think it just for the Bank Manager to leal with
us thus? And is it proper that the Bank Manager should
allow himself to knock a part off the sum deposited with him
when he has been making a profit from it all these years,
without our ever thinking of asking for any compensation?
Indeed, this is very strange*
"Now you may please cash our cheque in currency notes * *
ooooooooooooooooooovooeoooooooooooooooeooo
225. The Ruling Family .
(i) Shrikheh/iyesha, who was, during Shaikh Hamad ’s life
time, his senior and favourite wife, has not been treated generously
by Shaikh Salman since his father’s death. Formerly Shaikh Hamad
not only gave her an allowance of Ps 300 p.m. but also paid all her
bills and all charges incurred on the maintenance of her large
household establishment. Shaikh Salman, who does not like Shaikeh
Lyosha and whose wife has always been jealous of her, gives her an
allowance of Ps 300 p.m. only and refuses any additional help.
Shaikheh dyesha 1 s position is a pitiable one as she cannot subsist
on this meagre allowance in a manner in any way consonant with the
dignity of her position as widow of the late Huler and she is too
proud to sell her jewellery. She is contemplating an appeal to
the Political Agent since the Adviser to the Bahrain Government,
though sympathetic, is not in a position to help her.
(ii) His Highness Shaikh Salman is sending to Ibn Saud a
present of 50 camels and 15 horses. This gift has not been^prompts
by any instinct of generosity, but has its origin in the Shaikh's
desire to relieve himself of the financial burden of keeping an
unnecessarily large stable.
P 226. L ocal Affairs .
(i) Petrol in Bahrain is unlimited in quantity and cheap in
price, but as stocks of tyres and spare parts are now almost ex
hausted and cannot be replaced the number of motor cars infuse in
the island is rapidly diminishing. The problem of providing al
ternative means of transport is a difficult one, as the use of
horse-drawn vehicles on any considerable scale would necessitate
increased imports of fodder. Anticipating further deterioration in
the transport position the Bahrain Government have issued an order
^ prohibiting the export of donkeys. The Bahraini donkey, it may be
adde1, is a useful beast as it can carry very heavy loads and,
though omnivorous, will still thrive on a starvation diet.
P (ii) The Bahrain Court has decided that in future persons
who are convicted of gambling will be sentenced to imprisonment
without the option of a fine. Gambling is believed by the
Bahrain Court to be a potent factor in transforming honest men
into thieves.
P 227. B roadcasting .
Bahrain has again been the subject of radio comment from
Berlin. This time it was not an American Military Dictator but
the United States Navy which, it was alleged, had been sent to
Bahrain to protect American oil interests there.
228. S muggling ^f Arms .
On October 22nd - 23rd one of His Majesty's Ships based
on Bahrain carried cut a patrol over the area between the Bahrain
Light Vessel and a point about 20 miles S.B. of Has Hakan on the
Qatar peninsula. Though no arms were found, information of inters
was obtained about the movements and cargoes of country craft en
countered in the course of the patrol.