Page 145 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

Agitation for reform, 1938 133

-2-

demonstrations and an attempt wao alao made to fetch in
the divers from Muharraq. Both these attempts were un­
successful. There was some alarm in the bazaar but on
my suggestion Belgrave issued a notice promising the

public protection from interference by crowds of irresponsible
persons and later the bazaar reopened. The arrests on
Saturday had, I believe, disorganised strike and demonstration
plans under preparation.
3. On Monday Belgrave saw the leaders of the Bahama
who undertook to keep the Bahama quiet. Moat of the Bahrain
Petroleum Company’s coolies returned to work and soma of

the office boys also . The bazaar was shut again as the
result of a stupid rumour but quickly reopened. And finally
a small crowd of boys assembled in the road outside the
Agency, and was dispersed by Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad
and his servants, who happened to be passing. Belgrave
and I' SaW 'the managers of the Bahrain Petroleum Company
"who afterwards issued a general notice that men who failed
to return to work by Wednesday morning would be liable to
dismissal or "such action as seemed necessary**•

4. On Tuesday the Bahrain Petroleum Company was practical­
ly up to full strength and there was a quiet day in Manamah.
Wednesday was also quiet but on Wednesday night more notices
were 6tuck up in various parts of Manamah and Muharraq demand­

ing the release of the persons who have been arrested, order­
ing a strike of the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s employees,
the boycott of the cinema, and threatening that those who
opposed the "Society of Free Youth" would endanger themselves.
Today I received two communications by post from "A1 Shabab
al Ummah" of which I enclose copies.
5. I must emphasize that the Bahama of the towns and
*.................. V *
villages have taken no share in this overt agitation. Their
—- ■ _ t ijir— ••
leaders/-