Page 263 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

Petroleum affairs 653

from Fasht bu Sa* nfn light to the northern point of
the T.iaboinali islands.
S. On political grounds there arc few things I
would rather do in the Persian Gulf than obtain this
area for the Ruler of Bahrain. He is the most deserving

of all the Rulers end v/o havo been able to do all too
little for him. His recent statement to the Company
suggests that his patience is becoming exhausted and
unless v»e cun do something effective to help him, I

fear there is every prospect of this matter becoming as
much a matter of personal grievance and disappointment
to him as is th.st of '/.ubarah, on which he has felt for
so long that we have denied him the help that is his
due. I would, therefore, suggest that if the prospects
of a settlement of the ownership of Pasht bu Ga'afa or

the area to the east of it by legal means are unlikely
to be satisfactory to Bahrain we should carefully
consider what political methods might bo employed.
Two of tho(r;0 present themselves. The fix’st, which lias

been discussed before, is that a pe sonal appeal
should be made to the Saudis, either by the Ruler or
by ourselves. His Highness has indicated he is unwilling
to take this course. V/e are ourselves in no position
to do so at present but if v/e were to .reach agreement
with the ,‘Jaudis over the procedure for arbitration in

the Abu Dhabi frontier dispute there might perhaps be
a. moment of relaxation of tension and renewal of
friendship which would give us an opportunity to make
an appeal on his behalf to King Gaud. This would
/presumably