Or - untested:
Add a new user with the same username and PID, to the secured workgroup file
for the BE, *and* the unsecured workgroup file for the FE. Give that user
read-access to the tables in question. Put a password on the Admin user of
the unsecured workgroup file. Tell everyone what that password is, so
everyone cal still log-in to the unsecured database. Put another password on
the new user. Tell that password only to the relevant people. Log on to the
unsecured database using the new user, create links to the relevant tables
in the secured database, then base some forms or reports on those links. Log
out, hold breath & go to lunch.
Now, IMO, people who know the new user's password will be able to log on to
the unsecured database & run the forms & reports which are linked to the
tables in the secured database. other (general) users of the unsecured
database will only know the general Admin password, & so, will not be able
to run those forms or reports.
TC