- 38 Minutes. /- . لما This is a very interesting document.It represents primarily, of course, theopening shots in the battle for theLegislative Council, which will now be joinedin earnest. I cannot help feeling that sofar as we are concerned it is a losingbattle. The present stage is a logicaldevelopment of the stand we have taken overthe "reformist demands since they werefirst advanced a year ago, and the successive retreats which have been made in the faceof the High Executive Committee's campaignin recent months to obtain for Bahrainissome share in the management of their affairs.Our hopes that administrative improvementsand then labour legislation would distractattention from the High Executive Committee'spolitical aims have been belied though theyhave not perhaps been given altogether afair trial, the improvements having been (tosay the least) unspectacular and the legislation being still in the melting-pot.Unless, therefore, we are prepared to call ahalt at this juncture and go back on ourpolicy of the last twelve months we shall, Isubmit, have to accept, and persuade theBahrain Government to accept some form ofpopular representation. The Daily question ishow to invest it with a measure ofresponsibility. NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN. 2. The second interesting feature of theBulletin is its implied threat to establisha "Shadow Government if the High ExecutiveCommittee does not get what it wants. Suchan organisation already exists in a smallway (viz. the sending of students to Egyptat "popular expense) and in the absence ofan effective Bahrain Government this couldbe a very embarrassing factor. 3. Thirdly, the final para of theBulletin tends to confirm our views a. that there is no widespreadfeeling in favour of strikes anddemonstrations at present andthat the High Executive Committeewere glad enough of the face-saverprovided by the indefinitepostponement of the Penal Code; and b. that there has been some thinglike a split in the direction ofthe movement, and that thepostponement has allowed themoderates to regain some measureof control and outward unity atleast to be preserved. Su stuead of h 60.First secretary. Bu I.T.M. Lucas.September 8, 1955. First Secretary 1.0.P.
