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November 1955, but it had taken until early 1956 for both parties to reach a deal. 472

The Adviser’s diary note of 22 February indicated that Al-Sanhouri was due to

(finally) arrive in May. 473

Taking the HEC’s threat seriously, the Residency called on Belgrave

according to his diary entry of 23 February. They advised him to hold back the

recruitment of Iraqi officers, fearing that this might result in tensions locally. 474

Initially it was arranged that Bahrain would employ one hundred and fifty Iraqis

into the Force. The local Administration accepted the advice delivered by the

Residency and the appointment of the officers was postponed. 475 The Foreign

Secretary informed the FO that, as a result of the HEC’s declared threat, British

officials in the Gulf were to stand by the Ruler with armed forces if necessary if the

Bahraini opposition resorted to disorder and violence. 476

The Resident discussed with the FO details of the anticipated Foreign

Secretary’s visit to Bahrain as he was due to stop over from Cairo on 2 March en

route to New Delhi and later Karachi to attend SEATO’s Council of Ministers

meeting. According to a tentative schedule agreed by the FO and the Residency, the

Minister was due to arrive at 7.00 pm local time. He would then be escorted to the

Residency in Juffair where he was due to give a short press conference. Following

the conference Lloyd would be escorted to the Ruler’s palace in Gudaibiya in

Manama, for a ceremonial dinner with the Ruler and dignitaries. Finally the Foreign

472 ‘Bernard Burrows, Residency’s Report for the Month of March 1956’, 1-10 (2-3).
473 Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave’s Personal Diaries, 22 February 1956.
474 Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave’s Personal Diaries, 23 February 1956.
475 TNA, FO 1016/465, Burrows to Baghdad, 4 March 1956.
476 TNA, FO 1016/465, Lloyd to FO, 29 February 1956.

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