Page 42 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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51. In 1949 Ibn Saud and the Ruler of Bahrain issued their declarations of
rights over the sea-bed and the Saudi Arabian Government followed up the issue
of their declaration with a request to His Majesty’s Government to enter into
discussions regarding the boundaries of the sea-bed between the two States. Both
the Arabian American Oil Company and the Bahrain Petroleum Company started
to stake their claims over the shoals north of Bahrain. After consulting Salman
His Majesty’s Government explained the position about the Bahrain Petroleum
Company’s operations in the Bu Sa’afah shoal (and also on Arabi Island (Chapter
3, paragraph 71)) to the Saudi Arabian Government and suggested that they should
be allowed to continue those operations without prejudice.!7”) The Saudis however
demanded the cessation of the operations^") and Ibn Saud wrote personally to
Salman on the subject. The latter sent a non-committal reply and in his turn
protested against the operations of the Arabian American Oil Company in the area.
52. His Majesty’s Government had hoped that discussion of the sea-bed
boundary with the Saudis might be postponed until the dispute with them about
land boundaries had been settled but were forced to the conclusion that this was
no longer possible. The Bahrain Petroleum Company were asked to cease
operations in the area and in April 1950 the Saudi Arabian Government was
informed that His Majesty’s Government were intending to present to them
proposals for the delimitation of the sea-bed between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
and asked to advise the Arabian American Oil Company also to suspend operations
in the disputed areas, the limits of which were defined.(*') The company suspended
operations accordingly. In May 1950 this company fixed plaques on all the beacons
marking the channel to Ras Tanurah including those on the Rennie and Bu Sa’afah
shoals with inscriptions to the effect that they were situated in Saudi territory.!*2)
The Ruler protested about the plaque on Bu Sa’afah and a protest was made by His
Majesty’s Embassy at Jeddah to the Saudi Arabian Government.
53. At the end of 1949 or the beginning of 1950 the Saudis placed markers
on certain islands claimed for Kuwait and also on the two Bainah Islands which
were claimed by Bahrain.!141) . Salman protested strongly against their action on the
latter islands, and Belgrave forwarded to the Political Agent a detailed statement
of Bahrain’s claim.(M) This was based largely on usage but also referred to Article 13
of the unratified Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913 which mentions the two
islands as included in Bahrain. A protest was made to the Saudi Arabian
Government.
54. The Saudis forwarded a note on May 11, 1950 in reply to notes dealing
with this and other territorial disputes accusing His Majesty’s Government of
accepting the Gulf Rulers claims without due scrutiny, urging the statement of the
claims on a real historical basis and suggesting that a joint technical committee
should.be appointed to examine the disputes in a practical manner.C4) In August
His Majesty’s Embassy at Jedda presented two aide-memoires to the Saudi
Arabian Government.("*') In the first, the intention of removing the plaques on the
Bu Sa’afah and Rennie shoals and the markers on Farsi, Arabi and the Bainah
Islands was announced and in the second it was proposed that each Government
should prepare a memorandum of claims setting out the detailed evidence in which
the claims were based, and that they should be exchanged two months before a
date to be appointed for discussions, which it was proposed should take place in
Bahrain. A further communication relating to the division of the sea-bed between
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia was promised. The Royal Navy removed all the plaques
and markers concerned and strong protests were received from the Saudis. His
Majesty’s Government undertook to refrain from erecting any such markers
themselves on the understanding that similar restraint would be exercised by the
Saudi Arabian Government. In November a note was received from the Saudis
protesting against the removal of the markers and agreeing to a meeting to be held
first at Dammam and then if necessary at Bahrain. His Majesty’s Government
replied in April 1951 agreeing that negotiations should take place regarding all
('*) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 202 of November 2. 1949 (E 13554/1271/91 of 1949).
(*°) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 205 of November 6. 1949 (E 13748/1271/91 of 1949).
!*') Jedda to F.O. Despatch 33 of April 8. 1950 (EA 1276/28 of 1950).
(”) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 177 of May 4. 1950 (EA 1276/31 of 1950).
(**) Tel. From P.R. to F.O. 16 of January 13. 1950 (EA 1081/2 of 1950).
(M) P.R. to F.O. 4/47/50 of April 27. 1950 (EA 1081/19 of 1950).
(■**) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 137 of May 19. 1950 (EA 1081/37 of 1950).
(**) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 112 of August 18. 1950 (EA 1081/36 of 1950).