890.0145/10–2549: Telegram
The Chargé in Saudi Arabia (Hill) to the Secretary of State
626. At my request, Eilts1 has drafted following views regarding query contained Deptel 414 October 21, in which I concur.
Embassy considers it inadvisable include Bahrain–SA boundary problems in present British–SAG negotiations. We do believe, however, that such discussions might well be undertaken with British concurrently but independently. Choice of including above in talks now underway would seem lie entirely with SAG. British Embassy has frequently pointed out that present negotiations initiated at invitation SAG and that British Government has at very outset indicated its willingness arrive at overall settlement outstanding boundary problems in area. Hence, if SAG were to request inclusion above, its request would presumably be given every consideration within framework aforementioned instructions.
ARAMCO legal offices, who sounded out on question, strongly oppose any such inclusion since they fear, and in our view justifiably so that if PG isle-mainland claim controversies all lumped together in single negotiation, British will have opportunity play off one against the other, a development which might tend to work to disadvantage of SAG. ARAMCO has emphasized to SA Finance Ministry, however, desirability instituting early Bahrain–SA boundary talks. (In this connection, any such talks would presumably include Arabi affairs. Owen, ARAMCO, quotes statement attributed to BAPCO that Shaikh Bahrain has verbally disclaimed any interest in Arabi on grounds that it too far removed from his own domains, although no such disclaimer officially communicated to SAG.)
As Department aware, SAG has to date preferred confine present negotiations to Qatar–Abu Dhabi frontiers. Following ARAMCO’s recently informing SAG of BAPCO’s PG moves, however, King immediately appointed special committee, headed by Amir Faisal, to look into NE situation involving Bahrain. Committee has now drafted note which it plans send British shortly inviting discussions on Bahrain–SA boundary problems in accordance Article VIII King’s recent territorial letters proclamation. Owen, who has been given copy of note and believes it to be somewhat inconclusive, proposed that it be held up for few days pending receipt of advisory opinion on wording thereof from Judge Hudson, a suggestion to which SAG readily agreed. Owen wiring Hudson today. ARAMCO belief that negotiations should be undertaken directly with Shaikh Bahrain [Page 153] rather than British rejected by King, who very wisely apparently deems such tactics unnecessarily offensive at this time.
In view foregoing, Embassy believes no prompting necessary at moment since wheels appear to be already in motion.
Sent Department, pouched Dhahran.
- Hermann F. Eilts, Third Secretary of Embassy in Saudi Arabia.↩