No. 1561
Editorial Note
Telegram 168 from Dhahran, May 3, not printed, reported on a number of conversations between the Ambassador and various members of the Saudi Arabian Government regarding Buraimi. During the last conversation, on May 2, the Deputy Foreign Minister [Page 2605] informed the Ambassador his latest talks with British officials indicated that United States interest in the Buraimi settlement had had no effect on the British position, which remained “hard” and “inflexible.” Yassin believed the questions of troop withdrawal and the size of the area to be submitted to arbitration could be resolved through direct negotiation with the British, but the question of oil operations in the disputed area could not. The next discussions between the two sides were expected to be held in London, with Saudi Arabia represented by its Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who agreed with Yassin that settlement would have to come through arbitration. (780.022/5–354)