Page 149 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

I
Constitutional reforms, 1955 135

If
regarding•tho affairs of thooc two departments;
(6) The labour committee on which employere and workers
will bo equally represented;

(7) Tho municipalities, the statuo of which is now
going to bo roformod in order that they shall have
greater powers and autonomy.
It is unfortunately the third element which now seems
to be lacking, namely the participation of tho people in the
constitutional institutions open to them, and the reaoon for
this iB the attitude adopted by your, group which has refused

to testify before the Government committee, which has made
difficulties about participating in the labour committee
!
and which is trying to prevent individuals accepting
invitations to serve on the departmental committees.
Everyone knowB that there are further improvements which
ought to be made in Bahrain. This is true of all countries,
But you must not try to run before you can walk, If you
refuse to make use of the methods of reform and consultation
which ore open to you, if you boycott elections which the
Government seek to hold, there must be serious doubt whether
you are sincerely working for the real interests of Bahrain,
The British Government are deeply Interested in the
peaceful development and welfare of Bahrain and will alv/ays

watch Bahrain's progress with sympathy, They will give their
advice when required. The British Government cannot,
however, recognize the group of individuals which signed the
letter as having any constitutional authority, especially
when it refuses to make use of the ample means available for

applying democratic processes and for increasing public
participation in the administration, The British Government
support the Bahrain Government in introducing reforms and in
broadening the relationship between the Government and people,
as the Bahrain Government is now doing, If any section of
the population of Bahrain departs from constitutional methods

and resorts to violent action or illegal political pressure
/it