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326 THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARABIAN GULF STATES

different angle, namely, whether the said mission conformed to a
proper plebiscite procedure. i
After analysing the method employed by the Personal
Representative in “consulting popular opinion" in Bahrain, Mr.
Shahi appeared to be contented that, in the special circumstances of
Bahrain, “the conclusions reached by the good offices mission are
the same that would have been reached by a plebiscite”.
It appears, according to the view-point of the Pakistani
Representative, that the “avoidance of the method of plebiscite for
consulting the popular will” was justified in this case on the ground
that neither Iran nor the United Kingdom“exercised any direct
administrative control over Bahrain”. Therefore, “if either was
doing so”, Mr. Shahi concluded, the avoidance of the said method
of plebiscite “might have been open to challenge by the other”.

I. Ibid., p. 66.