Page 217 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Constitutional reforms, 1955 203

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Despatch fjOf SO? (E of tjie 14th of December,
J.9&4,. I think that the fime has cojno when we must make
it clear that we VeUpy* Pul0r b03 £°no a long
way to meet the demands of the "reformists" and that it
is now up to them to prove themselves. When I first saw
him on my return, the Ruler made a point of complaining

of our contacts with the opposition. While I do not
consider this necessarily a had thing because it is not

in our longer term interests hero j that we should become
completely identified with a ruling clique, I think that
« i
it is now in our own best interestf as well as those of
% .«• !
the Ruler and his popple, that we; should emphasize the
advantages of at least a long papse to see how this firut
limited experiment in representative institutions works
before considering further steps towards popular
government, i
5% I am sending copies of ithis despatch to
Her M^jestyis Ambassadors at Cairo* Beirut and Jedda,
and to the Political Office, Middle ^ast Force.

I have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
Sir,
i
Your obedient Servant,

(B. A. B. Burrows)