Office of the Historian

287. Agreed United States–United Kingdom Paper1

BEM D–3/4
Washington, March 16, 1957.

GUARANTEES FOR MAINTENANCE OF FLOW OF MIDDLE EAST OIL THROUGH PIPELINES

(Agreed US–UK Paper)

Recommended Position

The two Governments recognize that access to Middle East oil will be of increasing importance to the West and that greater guarantees for oil pipeline operations would be desirable. Both Governments will continue to lend appropriate assistance to petroleum transit companies in the defense of their interests under existing transit arrangements. They are also prepared to consider negotiating treaties with transited countries designed to lend stability to new pipeline projects and will consult together to this end. The two Governments will consider whether it is desirable to negotiate similar treaties for the protection of existing pipeline operations.

  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 856. Secret. Prepared jointly by representatives of the British Embassy in Washington and the Department of State, and approved in substance by Rountree; Moline; Corbett, Earl R. Beckner, Associate Chief, Fuels Division, Petroleum Staff; and Stanley D. Metzger, Attorney-Adviser. It was agreed upon on March 23; see Document 279.↩