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Council was reopened as the NUC wished to have elected members on the Council.

The Party also criticised the Administration on the conclusion of the Board of

Enquiry’s investigation. The next meeting was scheduled for 2 June. 672

Lloyd informed the British Cabinet on 29 May that he had given further

consideration to the Bahraini conflict. He declared that a new approach must be

adopted to solve the Belgrave question. Instead of focusing on the Adviser’s

replacement ‘an independent enquiry should first be held into the general structure

of the Administration’ he suggested. Should such an enquiry be accepted by the

Ruler and his Adviser, the public would then be informed that Belgrave was soon

‘expected to relinquish his position’. The measure would secure public opinion and

reduce general apprehension. The Cabinet agreed with Lloyd’s proposal and

requested him to seek the necessary steps to achieve it. 673

With pressure mounting on the Adviser and the fear of more trouble, the

Foreign Secretary recommended to the Residency that they arrange a dignified exit

for Belgrave from Bahrain. Lloyd followed the line he had proposed and which had

been accepted by the Cabinet. The Bahraini Administration was to hire an expert to

review its work and an effort must be made to effect Belgrave’s retirement. A public

announcement would then be made that, due to Belgrave’s forthcoming retirement,

an expert would be appointed to review the Government’s operations. It was hoped

that this move would ease tensions in Bahrain. 674

672 TNA, FO 1016/467, Burrows to FO, 28 May 1956.
673 TNA, CAB 128/30, C.M. (38) 56, 38th conclusions, 29 May 1956.
674 TNA, FO 1016/467, Despatch 598, SOSFA to Residency, 30 May 1956.

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