Page 173 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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Ibn Saud asked for a mixed Commission to determine the facts, which is apparently
what was intended by the phrase “joint study.’T") In July His Majesty’s
Government accepted this proposal subject to certain conditions. In September
the Saudis replied accepting some but not all of the conditions.^) In October
they objected to some operations which Petroleum Development, Trucial Coast
were carrying out in the western part of Abu Dhabi territory which was claimed
by them. A reply was sent refusing to restrict the company’s activities in this
area.C"4) Correspondence and discussion followed about the setting up of a
fact-finding commission and in February 1951 the Saudis agreed with one exception
to proposals which His Majesty’s Government had made about the formation
of such a commission and the procedure it should adopt.f")
97. About this time Ibn Saud protested strongly against the employment
of men from the Arab Legion to form a nucleus for the Trucial Oman Levies. He
also renewed his objections to the undertaking of operations by Petroleum
Development (Trucial Coast), Ltd., in the disputed area. It was decided to ignore
the former protest but in February 1951 the oil company were asked for the time
being to refrain from operating in Abu Dhabi territory west of longitude 53° 30' E.
98. In May 1951 the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in London suggested that
the Amir Faisal should be invited to London for a discussion of the boundary and
other disputes outstanding between His Majesty’s Government and the Saudi
Arabian Government. This proposal was accepted and discussions took place in
London in August. So far as the boundary dispute was concerned it was agreed
that (a) in order to fix the boundaries, a meeting should take place between the
parties in the near future and that the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and Qatar should
attend it; (b) in the meanwhile oil companies and the Trucial Oman Levies should
not be allowed to operate in the disputed areas; and (c) if necessary a commission
might be chosen to collect information which the parties to the meeting under (a)
might required100)
99. The proposed conference opened at Damman in Saudi Arabia on
January 28, 1952. The British delegation was led by the Political Resident and
the Saudi Arabian by the Amir Faisal. The Rulers of Abu Dhabi and Qatar
attended in person. These Rulers stated their claims and some discussion followed,
but the Saudis refused in any way to modify their 1949 claim, and pressed for the
appointment of a fact-finding commission. The conference was adjourned
indefinitely on February 14 without any progress having been made in the
settlement of the dispute, and it was agreed that the restrictions on the operations
of the oil companies and the Trucial Oman Levies in the disputed area would
continue to apply pending further discussions.
100. It was found impossible to resume the conference before the hot weather
and meanwhile a Political Officer was deputed to visit Liwah and other disputed
areas and report on the conditions prevailing there and the allegiances of the
inhabitants. His detailed report was received in September^101)
101. During the summer some of the Shaikhs of the Buraimi area had visited
Ibn Saud and accepted Saudi nationality. On August 31 Turki bin Ataishan with
about 40 armed men having passed through undisputed Abu Dhabi territory
arrived at Hamasah in the Muscat part of the Buraimi oasis and set himself up as
Saudi Governor there. A small party of the Trucial Oman Levies was sent to one
of the Abu Dhabi villages in the Buraimi oasis, and Royal Air Force aircraft carried
out reconnaissances over the area. Muscat forces were preparing to advance on
Buraimi but the Sultan was asked to hold his hand (chapter 6, paragraph 42) and
in November a standstill agreement was reached with the Saudis whereby the forces
already in Buraimi were to remain there but were not to be reinforced and life in
the oasis was to revert to normal, pending negotiations for a peaceful settlement.
With the consent of the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and the Sultan of Muscat, given very
reluctantly by the latter, Her Majesty’s Government then proposed that the whole

(**) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 151 of May 28. 1950 (ES 1081 /39 of 1950).
(”) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 98 of July 25. 1950 (ES 1081/59 of 1950).
Jedda to F.O. Despatch 149 of November II, 1950 (ES 1081/99 of 1950).
(••) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 17 of February 8. 1951 (ES 1081/23 of 1951).
f00) F.O. to P.R. Despatch 132 of August 28. 1951 (ES 1053/8 of 1951).
t10') P.R. to F.O. 1081 /236/52 of September 1, 1952 (ES 1081/87 of 1952).