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

780.022/12–2452

No. 1499
Memorandum of Conversation, by Robert Sturgill of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs

confidential

Washington, December 26, 1952.¹

Subject:

• The Al Buraimi Dispute

Participants:

• Mr. Ronald Bailey, First Secretary, British Embassy
• NE—Mr. Hart
• NE—Mr. Sturgill

Summary:

Mr. Bailey came in at his own request to discuss latest developments and to request an official answer to the note which he and Mr. Burrows had delivered on December 12 and had discussed with Mr. Jernegan on December 15.² He was pleased with the conversation between Ambassador Hare and Sheikh Yusuf Yassin, which had taken place in Jidda on December 19,³ and he expressed the appreciation of the Foreign Office for what Ambassador Hare had said in support of arbitration. The Foreign Office had communicated to him a message from Ambassador Pelham in Jidda indicating that Ambassador Hare’s remarks seemed to have had somewhat of an immediate persuasive effect on the Saudis. Pelham had had a talk with Yassin on the 20th in which Yassin said the SAG was not closing the door on arbitration. Yassin had said arbitration was not the usual way for the Saudis to settle their problems, but it seemed the views of the UK and SAG were not too far apart. The SAG, Yassin said, was awaiting a reply from the UK to its communication (of December 6).

Mr. Hart recounted Ambassador Hare’s report of his talk on December 19 with Yusuf Yassin (Jidda’s telegram number 479 of December 20, which was not received in readable form until 10 p.m. on December 24). He emphasized the fact that Ambassador Hare, and the Department, had from the beginning discouraged the King’s tripartite plebiscite commission proposal and that Ambassador Hare, in supporting arbitration, had done so quite firmly. He then imparted to Mr. Bailey the substance of London’s telegram number 3491 of December 23⁴ and Jidda’s telegram number 498 of December 24,⁵ both of which expressed concern over the possible use or display of force by the British in the disputed areas of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula. Mr. Hart noted also the Department’s concern, and said such action on the part of the UK would place the entire situation on a different plane. It definitely would put the US on the spot with regard to supporting the arbitration proposal, and he said that both the Department and Ambasador Hare felt that if forceful action were taken, the Al Buraimi dispute would be carried to the Security Council.

There followed a brief discussion covering a possible problem at Liwa oasis similar to the one at Buraimi. Mr. Bailey again alluded to the fear of the Foreign Office that the SAG might try to plant a Saudi official at Liwa and said this would be an action the Foreign Office could not countenance. Mr. Hart called attention to the fact that Liwa oasis is another of the many “fringe” areas in the south-eastern Arabian Peninsula over which no one had exercised complete sovereignty. He remarked that it was the visit of a British political officer which had excited the Saudis in the case of Buraimi. Mr. Bailey said it was routine for such an officer to visit Buraimi, that one had been doing so for years. Mr. Hart agreed, saying he had personal knowledge of such visits having been made in the past. He pointed out, however, that an incident at Liwa could have a deleterious effect on the present situation at Buraimi and expressed the hope that neither the UK nor the SAG would precipitate any unnecessary activities in the area. Mr. Bailey did not comment but left the impression, given previously, that the Foreign Office might take action if the SAG attempted to do anything in the area.

Mr. Bailey then asked explicitly for an answer to the UK request made by him and Mr. Burrows on December 15 that the US support arbitration in talks with the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia and with Prince Feisal in New York. Mr. Hart said there would be some difficulty about getting in touch in the proper manner with Prince Feisal. He remarked that the Prince was coming to Washington on January 6 for a luncheon at Blair House and that this would present a better opportunity for a discussion. Mr. Bailey thought action should be taken sooner than this and expressed the hope that it would be. Mr. Hart said he would discuss it with Mr. Jernegan and get in touch Monday with Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey again expressed thanks for Ambassador Hare’s action in Jidda and said all that remained to be done now was a sort of follow-up approach to Prince Feisal.

1. This memorandum of conversation was prepared on Dec. 29.
2. Neither the British note nor the memorandum of conversation is printed, but see telegram 377 to Jidda, Document 1496.
3. See telegram 479 from Jidda, Dec. 20, supra.
4. Not printed, but see footnote 2, Document 1495.
5. Not printed, it reported the Ambassador in Saudi Arabia was greatly perturbed by the idea that the British might use force in the area, since that type of action would certainly dash hopes for settlement by arbitration and result in having the matter brought before the Security Council. (780.022/12–2452)