EASTERN DEPARTMENT
ARABIA
1953
Received in
References to former relevant papers
MINUTES
Mr. Burrows' proposals would obviously be
beneficial. It remains only to see how far they
may be practicable. Should Mr. Pirie-Gordon's
soundings among the Rulers prove auspicious the
question could be placed on the agenda of the Trucial
Council. The function of that body as an instrument
of Co-operation and cohesion between the Trucial
States would, as Mr. Burrows suggests, be greatly
enhanced if it took part in administering a centrally
financed programme of development measures, albeit on
a small scale.
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(Print)
(How disposed of)
2. The proposal concerning Abu Dhabi in paragraph
3 (a) is realistically limited but even so I rather
doubt whether it would prove attractive either to the
Ruler or to the oil company. Shaikh Shakhbut's
attitude to his fellow Rulers on the Trucial Coast is
not I believe normally one of co-operative generosity,
and it might well be difficult to persuade him to part
with any of the oil revenue for which he has so
anxiously been waiting. As for the oil company, it
would not I suspect welcome the proposal that the
contribution, which might be substantial even at 1 per
cent. of the profits, should under a profit-sharing
oil agreement be accounted as a "cost" rather than as
part of the Rulers 50 per cent. of the profits.
This is just the kind of extension beyond the 50 per
cent. principle which they always seek to avoid as far
as possible. They should recognise however that their
relations with the local Rulers and their reputation in
the whole area would be increased by their contributing
to the welfare and development of the less fortunate
States. I suggest that we should first test the
company's reactions to the proposal informally.
(Action
completed)
(Index)
References to later relevant papers
C. T. E. Ewart-Biggs.
September 16, 1953.
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