Page 293 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Developments in autumn 1956 279

5.
development v/lvlch there was previously reason to hope that they
v/ould accept. Tho problem nov/ is how to consolidate the trend
of moderate opinion towards the withdrawal of support from the
Committee and to make it clear that the Government has the
powor and the will to prevent any dangerous expression of the
Committee*u more extreme philosophy, I have been told by !'

Ahmed Fakhroo and Mansur Orrayedh, as well as by other senior
merchants who have a great dca} less moral courage than these
t\yo, that thore is still lack of confidence among the middle
classes that the Government can protect them against
intimidation and organised hooliganism, They have also said
that because y/c v/crc previously known to be in touch with the

Committee of National Union and to have secured from the
Government tho grant of some of the reforms which they sought,
it is otill believed in some quarters that we arc support!
the Committee and that they could not continue their present
propagandist activities without our connivance. I and Mr
1
Gault have had several discussions v/ith the Ruler and v/ith the

Adviser about what can be done to give evidence of the
Bahrain Government's authority. The issue of the Public Order
Ordinance Y/ithout any obvious public reaction Y/as, us Mr.
Gault says, a step in the right direction, but it is dou'otful
whether the general disbelief in tho Bahrain Government's v/iii
<
to acaort itself, which has been fostered by some thirty years
-
of inactivity, will be dispelled until there is some opportunity
for the successful enforcement of this Ordinance, Meanwhile
the Administrative Council, which had various other useful
steps under review when it adjourned for its summer recess,
will shortly resume its work and v/o v/Lll do ov.r best to see
that it produces' quick results. There aro still a number of
things which the Government ought to do, of v/htch judicial

/reform