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Ibn Saud asked for a mixed Commission to determine the facts, which is apparentlywhat was intended by the phrase "joint study.”(*) In July His Majesty'sGovernment accepted this proposal subject to certain conditions. In Septemberthe Saudis replied accepting some but not all of the conditions.(*) In Octoberthey objected to some operations which Petroleum Development, Trucial Coast,were carrying out in the western part of Abu Dhabi territory which was claimedby them. A reply was sent refusing to restrict the company's activities in thisarea.("8) Correspondence and discussion followed about the setting up of afact-finding commission and in February 1951 the Saudis agreed with one exceptionto proposals which His Majesty's Government had made about the formationof such a commission and the procedure it should adopt.("")
97. About this time Ibn Saud protested strongly against the employmentof men from the Arab Legion to form a nucleus for the Trucial Oman Levies. Healso renewed his objections to the undertaking of operations by PetroleumDevelopment (Trucial Coast), Ltd., in the disputed area. It was decided to ignorethe former protest but in February 1951 the oil company were asked for the timebeing to refrain from operating in Abu Dhabi territory west of longitude 53° 30' E.
98. In May 1951 the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in London suggested thatthe Amir Faisal should be invited to London for a discussion of the boundary andother disputes outstanding between His Majesty's Government and the SaudiArabian Government. This proposal was accepted and discussions took place inLondon in August. So far as the boundary dispute was concerned it was agreedthat (a) in order to fix the boundaries, a meeting should take place between theparties in the near future and that the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and Qatar shouldattend it; (b) in the meanwhile oil companies and the Trucial Oman Levies shouldnot be allowed to operate in the disputed areas; and (c) if necessary a commissionmight be chosen to collect information which the parties to the meeting under (a)might require.(10)
99. The proposed conference opened at Damman in Saudi Arabia onJanuary 28, 1952. The British delegation was led by the Political Resident andthe Saudi Arabian by the Amir Faisal. The Rulers of Abu Dhabi and Qatarattended in person. These Rulers stated their claims and some discussion followed,but the Saudis refused in any way to modify their 1949 claim, and pressed for theappointment of a fact-finding commission. The conference was adjournedindefinitely on February 14 without any progress having been made in thesettlement of the dispute, and it was agreed that the restrictions on the operationsof the oil companies and the Trucial Oman Levies in the disputed area wouldcontinue to apply pending further discussions.
100. It was found impossible to resume the conference before the hot weatherand meanwhile a Political Officer was deputed to visit Liwah and other disputedareas and report on the conditions prevailing there and the allegiances of theinhabitants. His detailed report was received in September (101)
101. During the summer some of the Shaikhs of the Buraimi area had visitedIbn Saud and accepted Saudi nationality. On August 31 Turki bin Ataishan withabout 40 armed men having passed through undisputed Abu Dhabi territoryarrived at Hamasah in the Muscat part of the Buraimi oasis and set himself up asSaudi Governor there. A small party of the Trucial Oman Levies was sent to oneof the Abu Dhabi villages in the Buraimi oasis, and Royal Air Force aircraft carriedout reconnaissances over the area. Muscat forces were preparing to advance onBuraimi but the Sultan was asked to hold his hand (chapter 6, paragraph 42) andin November a standstill agreement was reached with the Saudis whereby the forcesalready in Buraimi were to remain there but were not to be reinforced and life inthe oasis was to revert to normal, pending negotiations for a peaceful settlement.With the consent of the Rulers of Abu Dhabi and the Sultan of Muscat, given veryreluctantly by the latter, Her Majesty's Government then proposed that the whole
(96) Tel. from Jedda to F.O. 151 of May 28, 1950 (ES 1081/39 of 1950).(97) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 98 of July 25, 1950 (ES 1081/59 of 1950).(98) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 149 of November 11, 1950 (ES 1081/99 of 1950).(99) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 17 of February 8, 1951 (ES 1081/23 of 1951).(100) F.O. to P.R. Despatch 132 of August 28, 1951 (ES 1053/8 of 1951).(101) P.R. to F.O. 1081/236/52 of September 1, 1952 (ES 1081/87 of 1952).
