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pressed by the Ruler to give up that part of its offshore area
(the concession area comprises the whole of the Ruler's
territories) which it does not want in order that he may sell
it to others who have approached him in that respect, So far
the company has refused to agree to this. The company's local
purchase scheme has greatly expanded.
12. A piped water supply for Muharraq was brought into use
in November.
13. The Bahrain Government agreed early in the year to take
an English language teaching expert on secondment from the
British Counci1. He is expected early in 1959. The Government's
proposal to supervise foreign schools taking Bahraini pupils
has still not reached finality. As such schools are under Her
Majesty's jurisdiction it has been proposed that the Political
Agent should control them in full consultation with the Bahrain
Government and that they should meet the Government's require­
ments for the teaching of Arabic, To this the Bahrain Government
had not reacted by the end of the year, In November the first
village girls' primary school was opened, at Budeya.
14. The Government again held an Agricultural Show and Trade
Fair in February which was well attended, It is to be an
annual affair.

15. In February, too, a memorandum of agreement was signed by
the Ruler and the Political Agent defining the terms for the
construction by the Government of a new civil air terminal at
Muharraq airport. Plans have since been approved and construction
should begin by the middle of 1959. 1
16. The application on behalf of Abdul Rahman al
Baklr, one of the leaders of the former Committee of National
Union serving a sentence of fourteen years' imprisonment on
St. Helena, has so far caused comparatively little excitement
here even though it obtained some publicity in the British press. i
17. The Strick Line vessel “Seistan" blew up in Sitra anchorage
in February. Seven Europeans and forty-five Indians of the crew
perished. It was the biggest disaster of its kind to have
occurred in Bahrain.

(C.A. Gault)
H.M. Political Agent
H.M. Political Agency,
Bahrain.
December 31, 1958

CONFIDENTIAL