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(b) Saudi Arabia94. Before the period under review there was evidence of much interferenceby the Governor of Hasa in the affairs of the Trucial States and misgivings werefelt regarding Ibn Saud's intentions in the area(*8) but until 1949 nothing occurredto justify these apart from the annual despatch by him of parties to collect taxeson camels belonging to nomad tribes in the outlying parts of Abu Dhabi territory.The Ruler of Abu Dhabi mentioned the visits of these parties in general termsto the Political Agent Bahrain in 1934 but made no specific complaint until 1948so that for many years they did not come to the notice of His Majesty'sGovernment. In 1948 and again early in 1949 their violations of Abu Dhabiterritory were brought to the notice of the Saudi Arabian Government but noformal protest was made as all or most of the nomads concerned were believed toowe allegiance to Ibn Saud and it was not desired to re-open the boundary dispute.In 1950 when the dispute had been reopened a formal protest was made.(*) Thiswas met by a denial that there had been any trespass and a counter-protest againstAbu Dhabi's interference with the Manasir.
95. During the period 1934 to 1938 attempts were made to negotiate withIbn Saud the boundaries of his territory with the Trucial States, Qatar and Muscat,and it is possible that a satisfactory settlement might have been reached on thebasis of the “Riyadh Line” which secured most of the requirements of the Statesfor which His Majesty's Government were negotiating, had it been possible tocede to him Jabal Nakhsh in the Qatar peninsula or the Khor al 'Odaid, whichhad been officially recognised as long ago as 1878 as being within Abu Dhabiterritory, and in respect of which a pledge had been given by His Majesty'sGovernment in 1906 that they were willing to prevent its occupation by anyoneelse but Abu Dhabi. The negotiations are described in detail in memorandaprepared by the Foreign Office in 1940(°) and are summarised in a note preparedby the Foreign Office Research Department in 1949.(1) After 1938 the disputeremained in abeyance until it was revived in 1949.(Ⓡ2)
96. Early in 1949 some survey parties of the Arabian American Oil Companytrespassed in the southern part of Qatar territory and in the Khor al Odaid area.In April one of these parties was encountered by the Political Officer, Trucial Coast,near Sila, well inside what was regarded as Abu Dhabi territory. They wereaccompanied by a Saudi offficial and guards who at one time attempted to detainthe Political Officer. The latter gave the leader of the party a written request towithdraw with which he complied.(93) The Saudi Arabian Government promptlyprotested but stated that they had temporarily called a halt to the ArabianAmerican Oil Company's surveying operations and suggested friendly discussionsto settle the dispute.(94) His Majesty's Government, while protesting at theviolation of Abu Dhabi territory, accepted this proposal and discussions startedat Riyadh later in the year. It was not until October that the Saudi ArabianGovernment made a definite statement of their claims (Appendix H). Theseincluded a slice of Qatar territory and a very large area of Abu Dhabi territorywith about 150 miles of coast line extending from the Khor al Odaid as far eastas Mirfah. It was stated that as the Shaikhdoms to the south and east of thearea claimed were not in treaty relations with the British Government, the SaudiArabian Government would agree the frontiers in direct negotiation with them.A reply was sent that the statement did not seem to provide an accepable basisfor further discussion, and that His Majesty's Government felt that they hadno option but to take up their position on the basis of the blue and violet linesof the Anglo-Turkish Conventions of 1913 and 1914. The Saudi claims werecontroverted in detail.(95) The Saudis replied reiterating their claims and suggestinga“ joint study.” Further correspondence and discussion followed and in May 1950
(88) Paras. 9–15 at pp. 88–89, P.G. 13.(89) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 72 of May 18, 1950 (EA 10325/8A of 1950).(9) (E 2203/2203/25 of 1940.)(91) (E 7536/1081/25 of 1949.).
(92) The exact alignment of the frontier claimed by the Saudis in the vicinity of the Khor alOdaid in 1935 is discussed in Foreign Office Research Department Memorandum ME 142/54 ofJune 21, 1954.
(93) P.R. to F.O. Despatch 30 of May 5, 1949 (E 5825/1535/91 of 1949).(94) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 96 of April 28, 1949 (E 5327/1535/91 of 1949).(95) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 21 S of November 28, 1949 (E 14598/1081/25).
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