Page 305 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Complaints regarding Charles Belgrave, 1956 291

CONFIDENTIAL
FROM BAHRAIN TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Cypher/OTP FOREIGN OFFICIO (SECRET) AND
WHITEHALL (3ECRET) DISTRIBUTION
Sir B, Burrows
No,. 173 D: 8.55 a,in • t March 4, 1956.
Mar oh 3, 1956, R: 9.40 a,in • 9 March 4, 1956.
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
My telegram No, 172: Bahrain Situation.

A now circular was issued on Maroh 3 by the High
Executive Committee calling for the dismissal of Belgrave.
This demand has been made several times before, both in the
past year and more recently, It is due to the dislike of
his position as the Ruler's sole executive, delays which
occur in his office due to over-centralization, and to the
belief that he is out-of-date, having been here for nearly
thirty years. These criticisms, while having some validity
on all points, are often fanned by the personal grudges of
those who do not get what they want from the Government in
individual matters. The campaign for his removal is
likely to be seriously strengthened by the dismissal of
Glubb,
2, I think it is Belgrave's intention to stay as long a§
the prosent Ruler is there, and the Ruler, who depends
almost entirely on Belgrave, would resent the idea of his
leaving. It is most doubtful whether it will even be
possible to secure appointment of another British adviser
after Belgrave goes.
3. If the Ruler accepts the idea of a small council to
advise him and be the intermediary between him and the
people, this would take over some of Belgraye's functions,
which would be a good thing. But I do not think that, in
l
spite of all his administrative shortcomings, and his failure
to grasp the need for public relations, we could or should
go any further than this and advocate his resignation.
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