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The NUC visited the Ruler in his palace on 18 March to sign a settlement

agreement. Al-Shamlan gave a speech in which he appreciated the Ruler’s

acceptance of the NUC. 595 The New York Times covered this news, reporting that the

strike in Bahrain had ended and that the local ‘authorities had agreed to set up

committees to consider grievances’. 596

As matters settled Riches summarised the state of agitation that had led to

the recent disorder making three points. The first was Shi’ite suspicion (from a

sectarian perspective) towards the Administration governed, as it was, by a Sunni

ruling family. The second was the feeling of discontent towards the Adviser by

Bahrainis as a whole. The third was the rise of Arab nationalism. Based on these,

Riches summarised the policy needed to deal with the situation in Bahrain. He

proposed first and foremost to strengthen the police by hiring British officers, the

recruitment of only thirty Iraqi officers (hoping that this lesser number of Iraqis

would not be a cause dissent), the employment of more Iraqi officers in the longer

term, and hiring of Bahrainis to the force. As for Belgrave, his departure should be

eased out. 597

The Labour MP Philips Price asked the Foreign Secretary in the House of

Commons on 19 March about the advice given to the Ruler in enabling the public to

take an active part in the country’s own affairs. Lloyd replied that Bahrain’s internal

affairs were its own business. Nonetheless he referred to discussions held with the

Ruler to further modernise his Government. Another Labour MP, Henry Hind,

595 TNA, FO 371/120544, Burrows to FO, 19 March 1956.
596 ‘Strike Ends in Bahrein: Work Resumes After Britain Backs Ruling Sheikh’, New York Times, 18
March 1956, 16.
597 TNA, FO 371/120544, D.M.H. Riches on Bahrain, 17 March 1956.

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