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Abdul-Wahab Al-Zayani, Mohammed Yusuf Jalal, Abdulla Yusuf Ali Akhber, Ahmed
Hassan Kanoo, Saleh Abdulla Al-Saleh, and Hassan Abdul-Rasool were chosen. 667
The Government had fulfilled a request by the Movement to re-appoint the
two Councils excluding members of the ruling family. That was followed in May
with the Government’s announcement to end censorship and establish a free press
in Bahrain, effective from 21 May. 668 The law also allowed for the freedom to
publish pamphlets and circulars locally. 669
A new round of discussions between the Ruler and the NUC was conducted
on 20 May. The meeting lasted for three hours and was of no consequence due to a
dispute among the NUC’s members. According to the Residency the NUC’s
delegation renewed topics which had already been discussed and agreed and had
refused to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The meeting was adjourned
until 27 May. 670 The NUC issued a new circular on 26 May renewing its demand for
the dismissal of Belgrave. In the circular they declared that ‘thousands of letters’
had reached them from Bahrainis pressing them to dismiss the Adviser. 671
The next round of talks between the Administration and the NUC took place
on 27 May. The Ruler informed the NUC’s representatives of his desire to discuss
the Health and Education Councils before proceeding to review other issues. This
was rejected by the NUC as they wished to have all points of discussion concluded
before a final agreement was reached. The issue regarding the Administration
667 TNA, FO 1016/467, The New Government’s Appointees, 19 May 1956.
668 ‘Awdat Al-Huriyah ila Al-Sahafa’ [The Return of Press Freedom], Al-Watan, 18 May 1956, 1.
669 ‘Government of Bahrain: Annual Report for Year 1956’, in The Bahrain Government Annual Reports
1924-1956, vol. IV 1947–1952, ed. R.L. Jarman, (Buckinghamshire: 1986), 1-111 (7).
670 TNA, FO 1016/467, Burrows to FO, 20 May 1956.
671 TNA, FO 1016/467, Burrows to FO, 26 May 1956.
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