Page 41 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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Dibal and Jaradah did not carry territorial waters.(**). In the letter to Salman it was
stated that in view of His Majesty’s Government’s responsibility for the foreign
relations of both Qatar and Bahrain the division of the sea-bed was a matter in
which the final decision must rest with His Majesty’s Government. Salman returned
to the charge in September once more bluntly stating his claim and refusing to
accept the 1947 award and promptly issued peremptory orders to the Superior
Oil Company to stop operations in the area (chapter 4, paragraph 38). While
discussion about this was still in progress the Superior Oil Company terminated
their concession so that matters were never brought to a head. Their successor
the Shell Overseas Exploration Company had not come into conflict with Shaikh
Salman by the end of 1953 and are less vulnerable than the Superior Oil
Company as they have their headquarters in Qatar instead of Bahrain. No reply
was sent to Salman’s letter of September 1951 but it is Her Majesty’s Government's
policy to adhere to the 1947 line.
46. The Bahrain Petroleum Company acting in accordance with the Ruler’s
wishes and in spite of protests by the political authorities in 1949 and 1950 surveyed
the whole area including even the territorial waters of Qatar.(70) They found no
promise of oil in it(n) and should the Shell Company of Qatar reach the same
conclusion and not wish to drill in the area it may be possible to postpone bringing
matters to a head with Salman indefinitely. Otherwise much dilliculty is likely to
be experienced in dealing with him as his feelings on the subject are only slightly
less strong than they are about Zubarah.
47. In 1949 His Majesty’s Government in the light of the opinion of experts
considered the desirability of making substantial alterations in the line
announced(7') in 1947 but eventually decided it was better to adhere to the original
decision. They were inclined however to revise their opinion that the Dibal and
Jaradah did not carry territorial waters but this point had not been finally decided
by the end of 1953.
(c) The Sea-bed and Islands between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
48. A detailed note on the islands and shoals in dispute between Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia was prepared in the Residency in 1951.(,a)
49. In 1936 the Ruler of Bahrain placed markers on the Bainah Islands,
which lie in the channel between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and in 1938 they were
included in the “ additional area ” in respect of which negotiations were proceeding
with Petroleum Concessions Limited!7') (paragraph 64 below). In the same year
the Saudis protested against one of the markers, and were informed, incorrectly, by
His Majesty’s Legation at Jedda that the island concerned lay within Bahrain
territorial waters.(76) Subsequently the Political Agent, Bahrain, suggested a
division of the sea-bed which would give one of the islands to Bahrain and one to
Saudi Arabia. The Saudis then raised the question of the ownership of the Fasht al
Jarim and Khor Fasht shoals where the Bahrain Petroleum Company were working.
It was proposed that a representative of Ibn Saud should visit the Political Agent,
Bahrain, to discuss the whole question of the division of the sea-bed(76) but he never
arrived and nothing further was heard from the Saudis on the subject for some
years.
50. In 1941 the Bahrain Petroleum Company were given permission to carry
out structure drilling on the Bu Sa’afah and Ashirah shoals, on the understanding
that if the Saudi Arabian Government protested the company would suspend
operations and that the absence of any such objection should not be regarded as
establishing Bahrain ownership of the shoals.(”) The Ruler was informed of this
and stated that if Ibn Saud claimed the shoals he would at once withdraw his claim.
Shortly after the company closed down exploration for the duration of the war
and no work was actually carried out on these shoals.C")
(••) P.R. to F.O. 1539/28 of October 6. 1951 (EA 1272/31 of 1951).
(,0) F.O. to P.R. EA 1271/3 of February 1. 1952.
(") P.R. to F.O. .1539/32 of November 12. 1951 (EA 1272/34 of 1951).
(7:) F.O. to P.R. EA 1276/39 of August 29. 1950.
(”) P.R. to F.O. 1081/1/31 G of June 30. 1951 (EA 1081/43 of 1951).
(”) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 7831/38 of November 30, 1938 (E 7206/1154/91 of 1938.
(”) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 40 of March 2. 1939 (E 2451/155/91 of 1939).
(7‘) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 2334/41 of November 21. 1941 (E 7729/1505/91 of 1941).
(77) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 2107/42 of May 2. 1942 (E 2759/9/91 of 1942).
(”) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 2107/42 of May 2, 1942 (E 2759/9/91 of 1942).