Page 253 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Administration council, 1956 239

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in Bahrain where the chops- shut at the
first sign of-.trouble) might follow. In :
.this event the Ruler would no doubt want
to arrest the leaders of the Committee for-*
contravening:;the law and we should be
-.committed to;help him. I
(d) If any member of the Committee of National
Union or anyone else can be shown to be
;;;i guilty of violence or of incitement to •
violence,* . lie/.should be arrested; but-there
3cems to be.no reason why such cases could
not.be dealt .'with by the Ruler’s Courts
under existing judicial arrangements without
the .need for .the-proposed special legislation.
The Ruler's powers arc absolute and the law
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applied in his Courto is not codified.
6. V; I think, therefore, that the Ruler would be better
advised not to run the risk'of provoking further trouble by
enacting this legislation in advance. Nor should we, by
committing ourselves in advance to support the Ruler if he • •*
arrests the reformist lenders, encourage his natural inclination',
to suppress-their movement by force. The question of what action
might be:taken against those provoking or organising a strike or
disturbances could best be-decided in the light of circumstances
at the time. • »
7. I-attach a draft telegram.

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(D. M. H. Riches) ■ '
April 10, 1956

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