'File 2/9 Anti-British propaganda' [‎222r] (448/748)

'/ORIENT ARA.BE
agence de presse
39, RUE SOLIMAN PACHA
TELEPHONE 56350
LE CAIRE
S_ U,l T\
M3aout -U 1 - AJi^a^f, (Beirut) 20.1.39.
The following article entitled H Tense Situation in Bahrain"
appeared in the "Saout-Ul-Ahrar" of Beirut in its issue of
January 20th. s
" Great indignation is felt among the ^rabs of Bahrain towards
the arbitrary behaviour of the Petroleum Company which gives
employment to foreigners and ill-treats the Arab workmen, mainly
Iraqi. Among the population, over-tired with its Gober#ment, a
secret party has risen aiming at the propaganda of opposition ideas.
The party distributed pamphlets calling the population to rise
and claim its rights. The shop owners of the town and workmen of
the Petroleum Company went on a strike and marched in the streets
by great number while speakers encouraged them. The Government of
Bahrain wanted to restore peace and called for the help of Colonial
Forces. In the riots several people msuml on both sides were wounded.
The leaders of the opposition party were arrested. They are: Saadi
Ben Chemlan, Ahmed El Jabaraoui, Ibrahim Abu Kawal and Ali Ben Alifa.
The population went on with the strike for several days and the
authorities kept on arresting young men whd are now enduring great
sufferings in the prison, what the population claims is the revocation
of the British Councillor to the Government of Bahrain, the constitu
tion of a Legislative Assembly drawn up on the same line as that
of Kuwait, the revocation of the direction of education and the
appointment of an Iraqi Director. Further claims concern the Oil
Company. The population wants the foreign workmen to be replaced
by j.rabs of all countries. These rightful claims are proof of the
fact that nationalism is quickly developing in the country.”
The Damascus newspaper ”A1 Amal Al Kawmi” reproduces in its issue
of January 21st the article published by ”3aout-Ul~Ahrar”. The
correspondent probably sent the article to both newspapers.