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public meeting in which the NUC’s President Kamal-el-Deen had presented a speech

since he had assumed the position the year before. 803

Al-Bakir returned to Bahrain on 27 September after approximately six

months away. Hundreds of admirers gathered to greet the nationalist leader. Upon

his arrival Al-Bakir made no speech, saying that he wished to speak to people on an

individual basis. One of the earliest claims that Al-Bakir made to Bahrainis was his

denial of the comments that were attributed to him in the press. Burrows expected

that one of the criticisms Al-Bakir would face locally was ‘expenditure of funds

collected in Bahrain and failure to publish accounts’.

Burrows predicted Al-Bakir’s possible behaviour following his return saying

that he would either exercise a more moderate influence on his Party, or would

resort to trouble and/or would join with other elements in their disapproval of the

Party’s policies. The Resident was concerned that should any action where to be

taken against Al-Bakir by the Administration at this point it would turn him locally

into ‘a martyr and a hero’. The biggest change in the Residency’s attitude towards

Al-Bakir following his return was Burrows’ intention not to resume contact with

him. 804 One of the most striking features that Al-Bakir noted in his memoir upon his

return was what he viewed as general antipathy towards the Movement from the

public. It was then that the nationalist leader considered the establishment of a new

organisation, but that plan was not destined to take shape. 805

803 TNA, FO 371/120549, D. Blelloch’s Bahrain Monthly Intelligence Summary: September 1956, 6
October 1956.
804 TNA, FO 371/120549, Burrows to FO, 1 October 1956.
805 Al-Bakir, From Bahrain to Exile, 121.

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