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Soviet arms deal with the Egyptians in 1955, disturbances in Jordan, and Bahrain

aided by Egyptian propaganda must have increased Eden’s doubts about Soviet

penetration of the region and particularly the targeting of the oil-rich Arabian Gulf

by Nasser.

The Financial Times issued a summary of developments in Bahrain in an

article entitled, ‘Anti-British Danger in Bahrein’ on 27 April. The report said that

although Bahrain witnessed a phase of ‘serious demonstrations’ a period of calm

had overtaken the islands. But the state of serenity was due to expire following the

end of Ramadan which began on the second week of April and was due to end in

May. The newspaper viewed ‘a certain divergence of views between the Ruler of

Bahrein and his British Adviser’. The newspaper did not give details on the

‘divergence’. The Financial Times also considered ‘the Egypt-inspired’ NUC ‘not to

represent the views of the most educated and influential part of the Bahrein

community, the Manama merchants’. Of the Party’s prime objectives it believed was

the elimination of ‘British influence in Bahrein’. 639 The article caught Eden’s

attention and he requested that Lloyd provide his comments on it. Riches answered

the Prime Minister on Lloyd’s behalf. Riches saw the newspaper’s assessment that

the NUC’s goal was to end British authority was wrong. As for the NUC not

representing the views of the merchants of Manama as a whole, unsurprisingly that

view, in the FO’s opinion, was accurate. 640

639 ‘Fears of Renewed Riots Next Month, Anti-British Danger in Bahrein’, The Financial Times, 27 April
1956, 2.
640 TNA, FO 371/120546, D.M.H. Riches’ Minutes on Newspaper Article, 27 April 1956.

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