Page 381 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

SETTLEMENT OF BAHRAIN-IRAN DISPUTE 317

Consequently, intermittent and indirect discussions, conducted
through British diplomatic channels, took place, during the first half
of 1969, between Bahraini and Iranian officials. The object of the
discussions was to seek an agreement on “the terms of reference of
the United Nations Secretary-General's mission. In the course of
those discussions the Bahraini officials took a firm position against
the adoption of the “terms of reference”, originally proposed,
which described the Bahraini issue as a “dispute”, between two
members of the United Nations (namely, Britain and Iran), within
the meaning of Articles 34 & 35 of the United Nations Charter.
The Bahraini officials, in objecting to the said proposal, argued
that as an independent government, Bahrain did not come within the
scope of the above two articles which deal with the “pacific
settlement” of disputes between two or more members of the
United Nations. Bahrain's territory was not a subject of dispute
between Britain and Iran, they stated. From the view-point of the
Bahraini officials, Bahrain was an original party in the dispute with
Iran. However, since Iran did not recognise Bahrain as an
independent government, it was thought expedient to approach the
Secretary-General of the United Nations on this question in the
name of the United Kingdom, the latter acting in her capacity as a :
member state of the United Nations to which Bahrain had entrusted
the conduct of her foreign relations. Iran, being the other party
involved in the settlement of the question, had also to make a similar
approach to the Secretary-General.1
Consequently, at Bahrain’s request, Britain and Iran agreed to
adopt a form of terms of reference which contained neither the word
“dispute” nor the express references to “Britain” and “Iran”.
Accordingly, the Terms of Reference, as finally agreed upon by all
parties concerned were as follows:
“Having regard to the problem created by the differing views of the
parties concerned about the status of Bahrain and the need to find a ; •;
solution to this problem in order to create an atmosphere of
tranquility, stability and friendliness throughout the area, the
Secretary-General of the United Nations is requested by the parties
concerned to send a Personal Representative to ascertain the wishes
of the people of Bahrain’’.2
:
After agreeing to these terms of reference, the parties discussed .
the procedure, or the method of operation, of the good offices ! ;
mission of the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative. For
their part, the Iranians did not wish to approve, in advance, a written
document stipulating the procedural steps, or the method of i

1. Private notes of author.
2. U.N. Document S/9726 (28 March 1970), p. 2.