'ARBITRATION CONCERNING BURAIMI AND THE COMMON FRONTIER BETWEEN ABU DHABI AND SA'ŪDI ARABIA' [With maps] [‎163r] (330/541)

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a close frontier control It was, however, necessary, as Sir A Rvan w » > •
o set some definite hm,t beyond which ternJriaf soverefgS? 000 ^ 0 ^
exercised, even if such territorial sovereignty were not in fact exercised up ™ that
limit. This would not prevent the tribes wandering freely from one territory to
another, and no doubt suitable arrangements could eventually be made regarding
their taxation etc., as had been done in the case of the tribes which Sa ed
between Saudi Arabia, Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , Syria, and Iraq. Arrangements could be
made defining the allegiance of various tribes or sections of tribes. But whatever
was done about this, it seemed clear that a definition of the ultimate limi s nf
territorial sovereignty must now be established.
SIR ANDREW RYAN pointed out that although the line which Hlisl
Mfajesty’s]. Gtovernment], had now offered the Saudi Government did not run
very far to the east of the Anglo-Turkish line, it did definitely take into account
existing facts, even though these facts might be at variance with what Hfisl
Mlajesty’sl. Gtovernment]. regarded as the technical legal position, since it conceded
to King Abdul Aziz sovereignty over Qasr-as-Salwa and the Akhwan settlements
which King Abdul Aziz had established to the east of the Anglo-Turkish frontier
H[is]. Mtajesty’s]. Gtovernment]. were prepared to concede this, and other areas
permanently inhabited by Murra tribesmen of Saudi allegiance, but they could
not possibly concede the whole expanse of desert over which this tribe was
accustomed to range at various times of the year.
FUAD BEY suggested that in drawing the northern end of the proposed
frontier in the neighbourhood of the Qatar Peninsula, the political allegiance of
actual settlements and recognised districts should be adopted as a guiding principle.
He considered that King Abdul Aziz had an unassailable claim to an area
considerably to the east and north-east of the line proposed by H[is], Mtajesty’s].
Gtovernment]. in this sector. As regards the desert area to the south, the only
method of drawing the frontier, in his view, would be to take account of wells and
grazing areas known to be under the predominant control or ownership of certain
tribes. He maintained that the majority of such wells and areas in south-eastern
Arabia were definitely recognised as being the property of one particular tribe,
although they might also be used by others, and that it would be possible to
ascertain their ownership and to make use of this knowledge in defining the tribal
areas.
MR. RENDEL said that H[is], M[ajesty’s]. Gfovernment]. had been influenced
by the same considerations, and that it was for this reason that they maintained
that the well of Banaiyan must belong to Abu Dhabi. They were satisfied on
the information before them that the claim of the Sheikh to this well, which was
indeed a key-point in his territory, was a sound one; and from what had passed
during the very full discussions of this question which had taken place during the
winter, he saw no hope of Hfis]. Mtajesty’s]. Gtovernment]. modifying their attitude
on this point, although they were willing to discuss further concessions to the south
of it, where such concessions might be easier to arrange.
FUAD BEY made it clear that the Saudi Government could not accept the
views of H[is], Mtajesty’s]. Gtovernment]. about Banaiyan, which, he claimed,
belonged exclusively to the Murra tribe. He invoked the evidence of Mr. Bertram
Thomas on this point, but Mr. Rendel pointed out that Mr. Bertram Thomas s
evidence, showed that the allegiance of the tribes in this area was most uncertain
and further quoted the fact that Mr. Philby had apparently been obliged to turn
westwards in this neighbourhood in the following year, since he had found himse
reaching [the] limits of the area over which King Abdul Aziz exercised any ettec ive
sovereignty. On this last point Fuad Bey replied that Mr. Philby had in fact on y
been turned back towards the west by his failure to find any water. j ^ c
FUAD BEY repeated his contention that Banaiyan could not be regaraea as
belonging to Abu Dhabi; but this point was not pursued at this meeting, a 0l *P
it was alluded to from time to time, and it was not until the next meeting on
following day that Fuad Bey developed it further. . , ^ 1ir ,„
FUAD BEY then reverted to the question of the northern terminal of the line
now proposed by H[is], Mtajesty’s]. Gtovernment]. and tried to show tnat K g
Abdul Aziz could claim not only Qasr-as-Salwa, but the hills o Salwa
of it up to a point some 10 or 15 miles up the eastern shore of th , e . then
He claimed that the frontier should run thence in an castor Y Aapiri
turn slightly southwards and run to the sea to the north of K or- - •
A long discussion followed on the question of this line. pj\ • „ u i was a
western end of it Mr. RENDEL pointed out that the Qatar Penms