Page 116 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

104 Records of Bahrain

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Sunnis 20% of tho total population,and foreigners 20% of whom
moat ore Nejdie and other Arabs, but some of whom ore Persian
Shi'aho, Baharinah 60%. Whatevor amount of guooo work thero

may be in thio computation it is agreod that the Buhorinah
number well over hall' of the total inhabitants.

4. The Bahurinah are now certainly bettor treated than they
have ever been in the pastf but it is an interesting paradox
that people do not generally rise, or become restive, when they
are actually being oppressed (the very fact of being oppressed
prevents this), but when, from one cause or another, they get

better treatment which (as indicated in the case of the Baharinah
in paragraph 4 of Colonel Loch's first letter quoted above)
gives them at the same time new aspirations and new opportuni-
ties for turning these aepirationo into realities. Moreover
at the present time one might soy, not so much that the idea *
of self-government(for those communities without it) is in the
air, as that the air is saturated with it. This is the case

in most of tho countries of the Middle iiast with which Bahrain
is in touch, while in India - with which Bahrain is closely
connected - the idea of self-government is about to be given
a practical form on a vast scale. In these circumstances, and

having regard to the position of tho Baharinah, it is not at
all surprising that they show some signo of unroot i on the
contrary it would be surprising if they did not.

So much for general considerations. The main concrete
demands of the Bahurinah, as stated in Colonel Loch's lettero
and from various conversation which I huve had with him and
with tho Advisor (Mr.Dolgravo), appear to bo as follows*
Reform of tho Buhrain Courts.

Proportional Representation on the Municipal
Councils of the tv/o Townships of Manama and
Muharraq.
Bettor educational facilities.
6. /