Page 379 - UAE Truncal States
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Chapter Nine

                  would be withdrawn. On the eighth anniversary of his accession, 16
                  December 1969, the Ruler of Bahrain, in a move to forestall increasing
                  pressure from educated Bahrainis, promised to reorganise the
                  government, giving the people a greater part to play in the country’s
                  affairs.57 On 19 January 1970 the new cabinet (called Council of State)
                  was announced, and of its twelve members only five were members of
                  the ruling family.50 While still pledging its support for the Feder­
                  ation, Bahrain consolidated its administrative structure, and  pre-
                  paralions were made in case the Federation of the nine did not come
                  about in time.50 In the Spring of 1970 it was expected that Bahrain
                  would declare its independence during that year and that it  was
                  already applying for membership of the Arab League and the United
                  Nations. Kuwait established a Government Office in Bahrain which
                  would pave the way for an exchange of diplomatic representation.
                  After the report of May 1970 by the UN Secretary’s special envoy to
                  Bahrain00 became public stating that the people were “virtually
                  unanimous in wanting a fully independent sovereign state” and after
                  the threat of Iranian annexation of Bahrain was removed, an almost
                  festive atmosphere reigned throughout the Gulf area.61 After con­
                  gratulations and deep sighs of relief the issue of the federation of the
                  nine was tackled with renewed enthusiasm.
                    Perhaps influenced by Bahrain’s progress, Qatar on 2 March 1970
                  promulgated a provisional constitution. In several of its seventy-
                  seven articles reference is made to the "Union of Arab Emirates".62 In
                  both, this document and in the law dealing with the Determination of
                  the Powers of Ministers and the Function of Ministries and other
                 Government Organs,03 the sovereign rights of the State of Qatar vis-a-
                 vis the Union are emphasised. Such references clearly indicated that
                 Qatar envisaged a confederation rather than a progressively more
                 integrated Union. On 29 May the Ruler nominated the seven
                 members of Qatar’s first cabinet, three of whom were not from the
                 ruling family.

                 Half-hearted revival of the federation of nine emirates

                 The June 1970 meeting of Deputy Rulers
                 While Bahrain and Qatar were engaged in consolidating their
                 government apparatus, bilateral consultations and regional state
                 visits continued, and the revival of the Iranian claim to the small Gulf
                 islands of Abu Musa and the two Tunbs made headlines. During the

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