PERSIAN GULF RIOT

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27909, 5 March 1956, Page 11

PERSIAN GULF RIOT

British Minister Delayed (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) BAHREIN (Persian Gulf), March 3. Angry crowds, defying police with fixed bayonets, today held up the departure for New Delhi of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Selwyn Lloyd. Abount 1000 demonstrators blocked the only road to the airport in this British-protected island for four hours. Tear gas bombs failed to move them.

Two windows in a car carrying Foreign Office girl secretaries were smashed, and other cars scratched and dented. Two buses were wrecked and some police and demonstrators slightly hurt, but there were no casualties in the British party. Mr Lloyd arrived yesterday after talks in Cairo with the Egyptian Prime Minister. Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser. He will have talks in New Delhi with the Indian Prime Minister. Mr Nehru, on British and Indian differences. Bahrein officials said the demonstration was started by a Bahreiner who had been imprisoned for a traffic offence. He whipped up feeling against alleged injustices in the penal system. The trouble began as Mr Lloyd drove in a big b’ack Rolls-Royce owned by the local ruler along the five-mile route from the airport to the house of Sir Bernard Burrows, the British Political Resident. Demonstrators gathered by the roadside at several points booed and shouted “Go home.” Mr Lloyd’s car was unmolested, but the others were stoned, kicked and punched by the surging mob.

Crowds gathered again later as Mr Lloyd and his party were entertained at a banquet attended by local European and Arab notables. Roadway Blocked

These demonstrators piled coral rocks across the roadway at Muharraq town, which is at the end of the only causeway linking the two islands of Bahrein. They refused to allow Europeans access to the island where the airport is located.

The demonstrators wrecked two single-decker buses belonging to British Overseas Airways’ Corporation and the Bahrein Oil Company. Mr Lloyd had been due to drive straight from the ruler’s palace to the airport at 10.30 p.m. for a take-off 30 minutes later. But by this time the mob was at its biggest—and angriest, so the Minister returned with senior members of his delegation to the residence of Sir Bernard Burrows. Mr Lloyd reached New Delhi today several hours late for his discussions with Mr Nehru. Officials in India welcome Mr Lloyd's visit, and feel that it will provide an opportunity for the two statesmen to discuss problems in a friendly and informal manner. The main point of difference between the countries is over the Western-backed Bagdad Pact for Middle East defence. India feels that this treaty has brought instability to the Middle East by dividing the Arab nations, and fears the increased military power it may bring to Pakistan, which is a member. Mr Lloyd will spend two days in India and then fly on to Karachi, for the South-east Asian Treaty Organisation Foreign Ministers’ Conference.