continuously in office since then, all duly elected by the majority
of the people. To protect Muscat, the British persuaded representa tatives of the Imam to sign the Treaty of Sib in 1920, which recog nized the right of the people of Oman to all territory except the
narrow stretches of coast subject to the Sultan. As recently as
1950 a representative of the Iraq Petroleum Company stated that the
Sultan had "control over only Muscat and the adjoining coastal
region."
The Treaty of Sib was violated in 1954, when forces led by -
British officers established themselves along the western side of
the Imam's territory. It may be significant that a British company
is now drilling for oil along this line held by British officers.
The British are now carrying their aggression to the limit in trying
to expel the lawfully elected Imam of Oman from his rightful territory.
WARNING TO OMAN
The Arab League Secretariat General received an important
memorandum on December 11 stating that the British Government has
sent a severe warning to the Amir of Oman to the effect that unless
he surrenders, his country will be forcibly occupied. The memoran dum adds that the Amir is facing a very serious situation, he re fuses to surrender, and is determined to fight for his country at
any cost.
KING SA'UD AND PREMIER NASIR ON BURAIMI
Replying to Premier Nasir's message of support in the Buraimi
dispute, King Sa'ud thanked the gyptian Premier for his interest,
stating that British aggression is nothing new to the Arabs. What
the Saudis resent is the fact that the British have committed their
new aggression at a time when the matter was being arbitrated, and
at a time when, together with other great powers, Britain was alleg edly working toward peace and the settlement of international dis putes by peaceful means.
The Monarch continued by saying that Saudi Arabia will use
all necessary means to regain that part of the country, counting on
the help and cooperation of Egypt and all Arab countries,
SAUDI ARABIA MIGIT USE FORCE TO REGAIN BURAIMI
In a statement to the press, the Saudi Ambassador to the United
States declared that his country night use force to settle
the Buraimi case. The Saudi diplomat stressed his country's willing ness to proceed with arbitration procedures but added:
If we fail to arrive at a peaceful solution of the case, and if
we decide that there is no other way, then we might have to answer
armed aggression in the same language.
