Page 160 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

148 Records of Bahrain
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and Bahrain subjects working there. He is not prepared to

accept the suggestion that a committee should be elected
or appointed for this duty or to interfere in Labour questions
elsewhero.
Comment!- The suggestion for the appointment of a
committee is clearly full of danger, whoreas the proposal
for a Government representative with the Company is one

which I have already reported to you, and to which you have
given approval in your telegram No. 368 dated the 16th
November‘1938.
(v) His Highness sees no need for any committee to
mediate between his Government and the public. He considers
that such a committee would merely embarrass the Government
and give rise t o disturbances; and he points out that there
are already various local bodies, partly elected, to represent
!
various sections of the public, e.g. Municipal Councils,
Waqf Council and Minor Estate Council.
Comment!- I entirely agree with His Highness1 views.
I detect here an attempt to inaugurate a Council to displace
I
; the existing Government. It represents no public demand,
and is purely an expression of personal ambitions.

7. His Highness has requested me to discuss those views
I and proposals with him and his brothers, and I would solicit

early instructions. I see no immediate need for other
action, beyond the strengthening of the security forces
:
5
(and His Highness has already decided to add one hundred
men to the Police) in order to deal with possible factitious
]
: agitation. I anticipate that efforts will be made to arouse
!
dissatisfaction in the Bahrain Petroleum Company1a labour
force, but I propose to report on this at a later date. I
consider that in due course it will bo advisable to organise

some sort of Bahrain Government propaganda to dissipate
ignorance/