HC Deb 31 October 1955 vol 545 cc67-8W
91. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any further statement to make on the situation at Buraimi.

Mr. Nutting

Since the information given by the Prime Minister in his statement of 26th October, we have learned that there was some resistance from dissidents led by three shaikhs who had gone over to the Saudis. This was, however, overcome and the shaikhs gave themselves up. The Oasis is now quiet. The Sultan of Muscat has appointed a governor for his villages and his forces are co-operating with the forces of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and with the Trucial Oman Levies.

The members of the Saudi police group are back in Saudi Arabia.

The casualties in the Trucial Oman Levies were two killed and three slightly wounded. So far as I know there were no casualties among the Saudis except the two slightly wounded who were mentioned in the Prime Minister's statement. Details of casualties to the dissidents are unknown but they are said to have declared that they had five killed.

On the 27th of October, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Jedda was handed a Note in which the Saudi Government protested at these events and requested the restoration of the status quo in Buraimi.

On 28th October the Saudi Arabian Permanent Representative to the United Nations addressed a letter to the President of the Security Council reserving the right to request the President to call a meeting of the Council to consider this matter and to take any necessary measures. The United Kingdom representative to the United Nations has also addressed a letter to the President of the Security Council explaining the situation in similar terms to those used by the Prime Minister in his statement of 26th October.