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Government and people of Egypt be when they know that we are standing idle and

powerless towards [supporting] one of its sons’. 424 The reason provided for the

banning of the Egyptian’s practice was not stated. Nevertheless, it pointed to the

possibility of Egyptian experts gradually taking over jobs held mostly by British or

Western specialists. 425

A proclamation by the Ruler issued on 28 October included a set of reforms

to be undertaken by the Administration with the HEC’s consent. The first was the

hiring of an expert to oversee the reconstruction of the civil and criminal courts. A

committee would be created to assist the expert in his work. The second

proclamation was the hiring of a judge at each court to assist the local judges. Third

was the organisation of security in harmony with acknowledged worldwide

regulations. Fourth the time frame given for health and education councils to

operate was two years. Finally, the reform of Bahrain’s prisons was to be

undertaken. 426

Gault approved of the Ruler’s announcement and actions as they ‘took the

wind out of the sails of the nationalist representatives’. 427 In regards to the

merchant community’s view of recent developments in Bahrain the ‘general attitude

424 ‘Tabib Yumna’a min Mumarast Al-Tib fi Al-Bahrain’ [A Medical Doctor is banned from practicing
medicine in Bahrain], Al-Watan, 21 October 1955, 2.
425 In Belgrave’s diary and around that time period he mentioned in a repulsive manner the presence
of ‘an Egyptian doctor’. However the Adviser believed the doctor’s goals was to ‘practice and to study
sex life’ comparing his work to Kinsey Reports’ investigating male and female sexual behaviour. See
Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave’s Personal Diaries, 11 October 1955.
426 TNA, FO 1016/388, Proclamation by the Ruler of Bahrain, 28 October 1955.
427 TNA, FO 371/114587, Gault to Burrows, 20 November 1955.

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