Page 56 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

446 Records oj Bahrain

^ MEETING HELD
EXTRACT FROM C.O.S.(Q) %%_

3. niii^HGi,. of tiir; luiiMUM on. IN ISOhATION 3L0KI.T
(Previous Hoforencc: 0.0. S. ( 52)1Yhth Meeting. Minute 2)
THIS COMMIT?);:; had before them u Minute* by the Secretary
on tho defence of the Bahrein oil urea in isolation.

In discussion tho following points were made:-
(a) In view of the tenor of the American reply^,
it might ho inadvionhlo to invite tho D.D.C.C.
to onrry out tho propooed administrative
reconnaissance of the Bahrein oil area yet, for
tho following reasons

(i) Although the United Stateo Joint Chiefs
of Staff had declined the invitation to
participate in this reconnaissance, they
might nevertheless come forward with a more
encouraging proposition during the next
few months.

(ii) It was most unlikely that any Saudi co­
operation would be forthcoming, unless
the reconnaissance was carried out on a
Joint Anglo-American basis.
(iii) ARAMCO were not likely to provide any
information - or other assistance - without
clearance by the United States Joint Chiefs
of Staff; it was almost certain that this
clearance would not be forthcoming ut this
juncture.
(b) It wus desirable, however, to collect what information
wo could about this jjrojoct, although there did not
seem much to be gained from attempting a full* scale
administrative reconnaissance at tho prooent time.
This should not however prevent tho B.D.C.C. from
obtaining ouch information as they could from the
various sources available to them; full advantage
being taken of the opportunities offered by the
present operations in the Truoial States for
reconnaissances on on unobtrusive scale.
Till; COMMIT?).;.-.
(D Invited the Foreign Office to take note of
their views.
(2) Instructed the Secretary to Inform the
I
British Defence Co-ordination Committee,
Middle Bust, of their views as expressed
in discussion.
i
l.( + C. 0.8.351/13/2/33
l 1
/ Annex I to C.0.S.351/13/2/53
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