Page 79 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

Iranian claims 469

to discuss the Iranian claim to It In any way, or to
entertain tho Idea of conducting a plebiscite among Ite
Inhabitants, would bo dloaotrouo to ua In tho Gulf and
greatly damago our standing with tho rest of the Arab world.

4. If tho oubjoct should bo ralsod In conversation, the
Secretary of State might tell tho Iranians that they would
be well-advised not to allow public opinion to Indulge In
vain expectations and hopos regarding Bahrain, and that this
advice Is tendered not only from the point of view of Anglo-
Iranlan relations but also from that of relations between
Iran and Its Arab neighbours.

United States Attitude
[Flag F] 5. As long ago as 1936 tho Iranian Minister in
Washington was Informed that In tho opinion of tho United
States Administration tho Iranian claim to Bahrain was
untenable.
6, In 19l»6 the question came up again and the .state
[Flag G] Department'8 legal advisor, after examining the arguments

adduced on both the Iranian and British sides, gave an
informal opinion that the Iranian ca3e was untenable,
[Flag H] 7- A paper prepared in tho State Department In 1952
recommended that whilst this was a question primarily for
the parties concerned, in which tho United States Government
should not seek to Involve themselves, nevertheless, if the
question wore raloed, the United States stand should be
"unequivocal In support of the BrItish pooltlon based

on the actual state of affairs".