Page 487 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

The dispute over Fas lit Du Saaja 475

ConfidentJ al. Political. A coney,
Bahrain,
No.C/R-525. ^^fPW®a!py?mb®ri 19/19 •

/Lj~

As Instructed In your s.o. letter No.V7 475/13/49 >
dated the 10th November, 1949, and llesldency letter No.
410/9/49, da tod the 7 th November, 1949 I wrote to tho
Bhulkh and to Bapco In the terms of paragraph 2 (a) and
(d) of Foreign Office telegram No.663. I also saw the
Shaikh this morning und told him the Foreign Office view
about Fasht Bu Saufah In the light of what seems the most
reasonable division of the sea-bed. 1 sent copies of my
letters to tho Shaikh and to the oil company to you under
printed letter No.C/H-523, dated the 10th November, 1949.
2. I hove not however yet informed Bapco of tho com­
munication to be made to the Shaikh of Kuwait In accordance
with the Instructions in paragraph 2 (b) of Foreign Office
telegram. In my copy of tho telegram the penultimate
sentence of paragraph 2 (h) Is obscure and T have asked
Dredge to be good enough to chock it. and lot mo know tho
reaii 11. On hearing from him 1 shall inform tho company
that a communication 'is being made' to tho Shaikh of Kuwait.
Bapco are as usual In rather a hurry to know what it is.
As 1 mentioned to you 1 told Skinru-r, Witherspoon, and
Bussell Brown verbally about it yesterday.

3. J also handed Ibn Baud's letter protesting against
Bapco1 s activities at Iiu Bnafah and Arab!oh to Shaikh Salman
this morning. He said, as was to be expected, that Arahich
did not concern him and he did not seem to feel strongly
about Bu Baafah. He said (obviously referring to the 1942
correspondence) that some years ago when tho question bad
come up Ills Majesty's Government had stated neither that
Bahrain owned the Fasht nor that Bahrain bad no right to It;
the matter was loft undecided. As you advised verbally
T said that doubtless he would consult us about Iris reply
to Ibn Suud's letter. lie asked me, in effect, for a lira ft
of a reply und T told him T would consult you. 1 l.bi nk
his reply should he on the following lines:-
The Shaikh of Bahrain Is not concerned with the
island of ArabJeit* and I lays' . no claim to 1t. He cannot
however admit the King's claim to the area (presumably sub­
marine) in the Persian Gulf "near Fasht Bn Baafah stretching
towards the south in the direction of Fasht ul Jar.li:i" more
particularly as this area Is not clearly defined, He I.s
agreeable to negotiations in due course but would point out
Unit in such negotiations he would be represented by His
Majesty's Government which, os Ibn Baud is aware, conduct.*;
his external relations.
4 . My correspondence does not seem to show that you have
a copy of Ibn Suud's letter, I have one copy of English
translation and will send you a copy of It if you require? It.

His Excellency Sir Huport Huy, K.C.I.F., C.S.I.
Political Resident, Persian Gulf,
Bahrain.