nowhere have I found the express authority given to the Hands of the Cause to expel people for any reason other than opposition to the Guardian.

What to do with Remey and his associates was the question of the hour and the Hands were divided on what should or could be done. Jalal Khazeh wrote to Leroy Ioas on 12 June saying the he ‘had suggested from the very first days that we should expel this mad man’. Mr Faizi cabled ‘SAKE GOD PROTECTION CAUSE EXPEL IMMEDIATELY.’ Mr Ioas sided strongly with Mr Faizi, writing, “With his continuing destructive activities I do not see how we can dismiss them - by simply asking the Friends not to associate with him. As I have cabled previously, he must be put out of the Faith entirely - as a Covenant-breaker - and the same action must be taken with regard to those who uphold his blasphemous claims.’ Bill Sears also supported this view: I completely agree that all the Hands should unite in this action, as they (the entire body) are the ones who must accept this responsibility as “Chief Stewards”. However, to await a meeting this Fall would be to delay it too long, I feel. Surely if all the Hands repudiate Mason and call for his expulsion if he does not repudiate, it is sufficient.” Hasan Balyuzi, however, responded that ‘Mason's claim is laughable, preposterous, abominable ...’, but then asked: Where do the Hands obtain the authority to expel anyone from the Community? ... These are the exact words of the Master, which I have read and read, and which I quote: ‘My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the Guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha .... nowhere else have I found the express authority given to the Hands of the Cause to expel people for any reason other than opposition to the Guardian.” Adelbert Miihlschlegel was also against expulsion at that time.

(Shoghi Effendi through the Pilgrim's Eye: Volume 2: The Ten Year Crusade, 1953-1963 by Earl Redman)