fast food franchises in Bermuda.

The warning came as Premier David Saul offered an olive branch to five Government rebels in a TV interview and said he wanted to meet them before the House of Assembly sits again in November.

The bill -- which would have killed off plans by a firm controlled by ex-Premier Sir John Swan to open a McDonald's in Bermuda -- was rejected by the Senate last month after being passed in the House of Assembly by an alliance of Government rebels and the Progressive Labour Party.

The bill was steered through the House of Assembly by anti-franchise United Bermuda Party MP Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

Fellow-rebel C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said yesterday: "Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto has every intention of introducing it again.

"The Senate won't be able to stop it then -- but we hope it won't come to that.'' Mr. Woolridge explained Senate could only block a bill from the Lower House once.

But two of the five -- who staged a backbench revolt over the granting of permission to open a McDonald's burger joint in Bermuda -- said they were prepared to meet the Premier.

Mr. Woolridge said the five had written to Dr. Saul asking for a meeting before the last session of the House of Assembly started in May.

He said: "We thought all of this could be avoided -- Dr. Saul did not see the need to meet us at that particular time, which was a pity.'' But he added: "I don't know what would be brought up at the meeting, but I would go.'' And he said: "A major split developed earlier this year after Finance Minister Grant Gibbons allowed Grape Bay Ltd., controlled by Sir John and including fellow-UBP MP Maxwell Burgess among its principals, to include running a McDonald's in its aims.

The move was in contravention of earlier policy banning franchises and against a Bermuda Monetary Authority circular re-stating the position released only last year.

Mr. Woolridge said: "From here on in, we need to start adhering to the same rules for everybody. We are not looking for any concessions for us.'' The rebel five are Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, Mr. Woolridge, Trevor Moniz, Dr.

David Dyer and Dr. Clarence Terceira.

Mr. Moniz was yesterday off the Island and Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and Dr.

Dyer were not available for comment.

But Dr. Terceira said any mending of bridges would depend on what was offered.

He added: "There is lots which can be done and one has to be optimistic that common sense will prevail.'' But the two rebels declined to comment on what they would regard as an acceptable compromise by the majority of their party.

Dr. Terceira said: "If I said what I might want, it might be different from a number of others.'' And he added laying his cards on the table could prejudice the talks before they started.

Dr. Terceira said: "That is not the way to approach any kind of reconciliation.'' RESTAURANT EAT