Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

890F.6363/6–1049: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Holmes ) to the Secretary of State

confidential

London , June 10, 1949—7 p. m.

2249. Embassy’s 2130, June 1.¹ Re offshore oil Chadwiek said today Sheikhs of Bahrein, Kuwait and Qatar issued their proclamations on or about June 4 and that remainder would be out soon in standard form. British Ambassadors Tehran and Baghdad have informed two Govts re proclamations. Iraqis inquired who had put Saudi Arabian Govt up to issuing proclamation and were told by British Ambassador that he understood it drafted with assistance ARAMCO.

2. Chadwick said he knew of no letters of intent for offshore oil having been granted by Sheikhs.²

Sent Dept 2249, repeated Baghdad 48, Jidda 43, Tehran 69, Dhahran 8.

Holmes

1. Not printed.
2. Dhahran, on July 23 and August 8, transmitted to the Department the Arabic texts and the English translations of the seabed proclamations issued by Bahrein, Qatar, and the Trucial Sheikhdoms on or about June 5. (despatches 106 and 116, 890.0145/7–2349,/8–849) The earlier despatch noted that the proclamations were issued in Arabic but were “translations from the original English prepared In uniform language by the British Government. The Political Resident in Bahrein had translations made into Arabic at the Residency in Bahrein.” Dhahran, on August 10, transmitted the original text in English used by the Political Residency as a model in preparing the proclamations (despatch 117, 890.0145/8–1049).