'File 10/1 G BAPCO labour' [‎205r] (413/586)

and explain their troubles to us then they would scarcely
as I had
expect us to help them. low ever, /said "before we v*/ould
examine the j;rievences that had been riven to us in writing
but they must return to their work, T inmediately ran^ up
the Adviser who came over and we a^ain discussed the situation.
o. I asked It. Anderson on the telephone to join us in
our deliberations and as soon as ikx he arrived we ; r y ot him to
state the position as far as his work was concerned. T 'e said
that he would be able to carry on for 4 or 5 days without the
men who were at present on strike provided no more went out;
but it mi^ht mean shutting down some of subsidiary machinery
at the Refinery. He said that he would like to make known to
the men the benefit plans etc approval for which he had to-day
received, and said that provided the men returned to their
work their services would not be considered as broken by their
present action.
Both the Adviser and I myself v -ere opposed to this n
line of action as we felt that it would be playing into the
hands of the strike leaders. They would undoubtedly make
capital out of it and v-e felt that were only be storing up
struggle for the future by an immediate capitulation. It was
aecided that His Highness should be asked to issue an 'Alan
informing the people concerned that representations had been
made to him, to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and to the Company by
certain of the Company employees who had left their work and
those grievances would be fairly and immediately investigated,
and that the men should return to their worV at once. It was
further decided that ohaijih Ali should collect the peoole at
Raa'fa who had left their work and endeavour to discover what
their real difficulties were and persuade them to return but
that he should not promise them an increase in wages.
It was Shaikh Hi's opinion, and I understand that of
trcu-
the Adviser,.a certain number of the men would probably return
within the next three or four days on their own accord owing
to shortness 01 lunds to enable them to remain away from their
/work