Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 2

780.022/12–1152: Telegram

No. 1496
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Saudi Arabia¹

secret
priority

Washington, December 17, 1952—5:40 p.m.

377. Brit Emb officers visited Dept Dec 15² to emphasize orally points made UK note handed Dept Dec 12.³ Note made fol points:

(1) Full text SAG note Dec 6⁴ not yet read but clear SAG rejected arbitration.

(2) Pro-Saudi tribes Liwa oasis incited to attack Abu Dhabi representative there, Saudis probably intend plant official Liwa, repeating Turki’s successful experiment.

(3) SAG now claims not only “undisputed sovereignty Buraimi area and vicinity” but also “allegiance all Oman tribes.”

(4) Eden requests USG make unmistakable to SAG (a) arbitration proper way solve dispute and (b) USG will not participate tripartite comm.

(5) Eden feels US approach SAG wld be more effective if made to Prince Feisal in NY and Crown Prince in SA.

Brit Emb officer commented FonOff believed SAG rejected arbitration because Saudis believed UK wld not use force to dislodge Turki and US still might participate on tripartite plebiscite comm (Lon tel 3245 Jidda 46 Dhahran 35⁵).

Dept made fol points to Brit:

(1) Already had expressed to SAG desire not participate tripartite comm.

(2) Our agreement support arbitration hinged on SAG asking our view, which not done. Only Saudi reaction so far received came from Prince Feisal during talk Dec 2 with Secy when Feisal expressed view SAG wld not accept arbitration.

(3) However, feel we can do what Eden asks but first prefer have full info re SAG note Dec 6 and comments Brit and Amer Ambs Jidda. Saudis in very querulous frame mind, especially Feisal, not only re Buraimi but also other matters re Arab–Western relations. Hesitant make démarche to Saudis without background.

Dept desires soonest any further significant points SAG note (Embtel 453 Lon 28 Dhahran 159), ur comments thereon, clarification as to which boundary disputes covered in Brit arbitration proposal, and ur evaluation strength our position re support arbitration either in Wash or SA. Dept strongly inclined support arbitration.

Bruce

1. Drafted by Sturgill and cleared by BNA and NE. Repeated as telegram 4075 to London, 150 to Dhahran, and 3452 to Paris.
2. Memorandum of conversation, Dec. 15, not printed. (641.86A/12–1252)
3. Not printed. (641.86A/12–1252)
4. Telegram 453 from Jidda, Dec. 11, transmitted a summary of the Saudi Arabian note of Dec. 6. (780.022/12–1152) The full text of the Saudi Arabian note was transmitted in despatch 177 from Jidda, Dec. 20. (780.022/12–2052)
5. Dated Dec. 11, supra.