Negotiations over disputed boundaries between Saudi Arabia and Oman and Eastern Aden Protectorate: discussions on other frontiers of Saudi Arabia

This file relates to boundary disputes between the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman and Saudi Arabia. It contains correspondence on:

• Memo from Saudi Arabia to HMG about the disputed border with the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (1)
• Possibility that the Saudis have been urged by the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) to force a settlement, and may move military forces into some part of the disputed areas (2)
• US being informed by the Saudis of their proposals to HMG for boundary negotiations from the Buraimi zone to the Aden/Yemen frontier and the US being informed by the British that the proposals will probably receive a negative response (3, 6)
• US State Department's informal suggestion that arbitration on the Oman boundaries could follow immediately after the Buraimi arbitration, using the same tribunal (7, 9)
• Expectation that the Sultan of Muscat and Oman Saeed Bin Taimur will oppose arbitration (8)
• The postponement of the US Ambassador's meeting with King Saud (10)
• British hopes that the announcement of the eastern frontier of Saudi Arabia can be avoided (12)
• Saudi allegation that 'Saudi subjects' were attacked at Ma'zam. It also discusses the Saudi proposal for direct negotiations with the Sultan (4)
• Discussion of which boundaries should be defined either by direct negotiation or arbitral tribunal (5-6)
• The Sultan's views on the Saudi proposal for arbitration and on the delimitation of borders (13) Suggested comments the Foreign Secretary might make to the Saudi Ambassador (14)
• Memo given to H Beeley by Taher Ridhwan containing Saudi opinions on the Oman-Saudi dispute, and the Foreign Office's draft reply (15)