Page 85 - Arabia the Gulf and the West

82 Arabia, the Gulf and the West

would only reduce the urge among the shaikhdoms to proceed with the
federation. However, Luce insisted,

it is one thing to relinquish our special and exclusive position as the protecting power of
the Gulf states, which would happen in any case within the next few years; but it is quite
another thing to leave not only the Gulf itself but the whole of the western’lndian Ocean
wide open to uncontested Russian influence.

To counter that influence, Luce advocated the retention of a Western
preferably British, naval force in the Indian Ocean, which would pay frequent

visits to the Gulf. An assurance of support should also be given to the Union of
Arab Emirates. The naval force would be tangible evidence of the West’s
intention to back this assurance.
In the latter half of August 1970, some three weeks after his appointment by

Home, Luce set off for the Gulf on his first tour. By the last week of September
he had visited all the Gulf states, and had called at Cairo as well. Considering
the nature of the statements on the Gulf made by leading members of the
Conservative administration at various times during the previous two and a
half years, one might reasonably have expected the Cabinet to have thrown the
engine of withdrawal into neutral, if not into reverse, while Luce was conduct­

ing his investigations. Caution was also called for in view of the highly dis­
turbed state of the Middle East in September 1970, with a civil war raging in
Jordan between the government and the Palestinians, and American, Swiss
and British airliners being hijacked and destroyed by Palestinian terrorists. No

such standstill occurred. While Luce delved, the wheel of withdrawal spun in
the Foreign Office’s adroit hands. There was hardly an official to be found in
London or the Gulf in the late summer of 1970 who was prepared to entertain
the possibility of postponing, even for a day, the date of withdrawal. Nor, it
would seem, were their political masters any more anxious to face harsh
decisions or tread the stony path of duty, if their timorous response to Palesti­

nian terrorism was any guide. It would have been difficult in the extreme tor
Luce to avoid being influenced by the atmosphere be found around him,
especially as he had himself already expressed the opinion that a reversal of
policy in the Gulf was impracticable.
Luce made his preliminary report to the foreign secretary at the end of

September. What he recommended needed little surmise - withdrawal from
the Gulf on schedule and the stationing of a naval force in its vicinity after-
wards. The diplomatic correspondent of The Times, who could normally c
relied upon to reflect the Foreign Office’s viewpoint, wrote at the time, ir
William will return to the area after the British Government s decision to eave
has been taken. A firm date for withdrawal should act as a spur to induce t e

rulers to drop their rivalries and make their feder ation into a going con^eri?‘
Luce duly returned to the Gulf on 15 October. No word was vcuchsa e y
government, however, that the decision had in fact been taken. Instea , at