Page 91 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol II_Neat

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aware, no previous claim to it had been advanced by the Persian Government.
They presumed that the erection of the plate was the act of private individuals,
and they therefore proposed to remove it.(,n) The Persian Government replied
formally claiming the island and His Majesty’s Ambassador acknowledged their
note and reasserted His Majesty’s Government’s view that the island belonged to
Kuwait.(m) The Persians replied reaffirming their claim. The plate was removed
at the end of May by one of His Majesty’s Ships. Since then there is no record of
any further Persian interference on the island. The Ruler of Kuwait was informed
of the action taken and in June erected a plate on the island bearing the inscription
“ Kuwait.”(‘,s) This plate is presumed to have been removed by the Saudis when
they erected their own marker there at the end of 1949.
67. In 1949 the Bahrain Petroleum Company wished to erect an electronic
survey aid station on Farsi.(Mfi) It was at first agreed that they might do so but
subsequently in view of Persian and Saudi claims to the island they were
persuaded to use Arabi instead.
68. In December 1949 a concrete plinth was found on the island with brass
plates embedded in it with inscriptions to the effect that the island belonged to
Saudi Arabia. His Majesty’s Ambassador at Jedda addressed a note to the Saudi
Arabian Government expressing surprise at this action and threatening to remove
the marker unless they stated the basis for their claim.C17) A reply was received that
the Saudi Arabian Government were willing to discuss the matterC'') and action to
remove the marker was for a time suspended. In May it was discovered that a
Saudi marker had also been erected on Arabi probably about three months
previously and that plaques had been placed on beacons marking the channel to
Ras Tanura (Chapter 2, paragraph 52). In view of this it was decided to remove
all the markers and plaques and those on Farsi and Arabi were demolished by
one of His Majesty’s Ships in August. An aide-memoire was simultaneously
presented to the Saudi Arabian Government informing them of the action that
was being taken and stating that His Majesty’s Government were still willing to
enter into discussions.("°) A series of strong protests from the Saudi Arabian
Government followed but they ended up by asking that no markers should be
erected on the disputed islands and shoals by the Rulers under His Majesty’s
Government’s protection,(,50) a proposal which was readily accepted. The Ruler of
Kuwait was informed of the action before it was taken and after referring to the
strength of the Saudis said he left everything in the hands of His Majesty’s
Government. At the same time as the aide-memoire about the markers, another
aide-memoire was addressed to the Saudi Arabian Government suggesting that
each Government should prepare a “ Memorandum of Claims ” setting out the
detailed evidence on which its claims to the islands of Farsi, Arabi and Bainah
(belonging to Bahrain) were based. The course of the subsequent negotiations
has already been described (paragraph 63 above and Chapter 2,
paragraphs 54—56).
69. Early in 1949 the Persian Gulf Lighting Service decided to install a new
light on Farsi and the Ruler was informed accordingly, but the project was held
up for a long time for fear of creating political complications with the Saudis.
Eventually in July 1951 the latter informed His Majesty’s Government that they
intended to erect six lights to mark the channels leading to Ras Tanurah and they
affirmed that should the Bahrain Government have any claims to ownership of
some of the points concerned the installation of lights on them would not be taken
as an added claim to the ownership of these points by the Saudi Arabian
Governrnent(m) (Chapter 2, paragraph 57). The opportunity was at once taken to
seek the concurrence of the Saudi Arabian Government in the erection of a new
light on Farsi on similar terms, and in January 1952 that Government agreed to its
installation without prejudice to the determination of sovereignty over the island
in the future.(‘aa) A new light was installed accordingly.
(,M) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 97 of March 16. 1949 (E 3726/1082/91 of 1949).
(U4) Teheran to F.O. Despatch 201 of May 31. 1949 (E 6920/1082/91 of 1949).
(m) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 331 of July 9. 1949 (E 8417/1082/91 of 1949).
(,4‘) Tel. from F.O. to Bahrain. 273 of May 14. 1949 (E 4932/1082/91 of 1949).
(,<T) Jedda to F.O. 1081/26/50 of March 1, 1950 (EA 1081 /12 of 1950).
(,4‘) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 60 of April 9. 1950 (EA 1276/29 of 1950).
C4’) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 112 of August 18. 1950 (EA 1081/36 of 1950).
(,ao) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 137 of October 18. 1950 (EA 1081/46 of 1950).
(' ) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 75 of July 19. 1951 (EA 1402/18 of 1951).
('”) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 9 of January 9. 1952 (EA 1402/4 of 1952).