The Formation of the British Federation

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Table of Contents

British Withdrawal
Local Responses
Question One – Easy
Question 2- Medium
Question 3 – Hard

British Withdrawal

Labor Government Economic Measures – 1967 White Paper:
- Unrelated British domestic events responsible for the federation formation;
- Cut spending on defense in the Gulf region;
- Liquidate all British military bases;
- Britain offered financial support to meet treaty obligations;
- Overall, internal British and Labor Party politics, and not a foreign policy, led to new situation in the Gulf region.
Technicalities of Withdrawal:
- Despondency among rulers and British diplomats;
- Britons’ attitude changed from aloofness, gunboat power to humanitarian;
- Rulers – withdrawal was a breach of written agreement and unwritten Arab law of trust and friendship;
- Technicalities over military, political, legal and administrative responsibilities;
- Possibilities of unsettling balance of power;
- Fear of Soviet Union gain;
- The challenge of protecting Kuwait under the British-Kuwait Agreement;
- The defense issues in the Gulf region.
Bahrain Predicament:
- Bahrain sovereignty a major challenge;
- Iran reiterated its claim on Bahrain;
- Peace and stability prevailed – Iran’s cooperation;
- Bahrain- formal plebiscite under the UN watch;
- Bahrain – fully, independent state;
- Iran ratified the Bahrain independence;
- Iran promoted good relations with neighboring Arab states;
- The British withdrawal was successful.
Speculation, Policy Reverse and the British Conservatives:
- British internal politics delayed the federation formation;
- Conservatives criticized withdrawal;
- Gulf withdrawal – military, economic and political errors;
- Fear of Soviet Union influences;
- Fear of influences by Cairo-oriented left wing propaganda;
- British investments and oil imports were massive;
- Possibility of Conservatives reversing the withdrawal;
- British announced withdrawal, Iran focused on becoming a major force.

Local Responses

Early stages:
- States reviewed their military requirements;
- States had to conduct external relations alone;
- Few locals supported sudden withdrawal and creating new institutions;
- Major concerns were security and unresolved territorial disputes;
- Closer cooperation among Arab rulers;
- Massive support for Gulf-wide cooperation;
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi led by merging security, foreign affairs, social services and common immigration policy;
- British lobby group supported the federation formation;
- Seven Arab rulers met for federation formation discussion;
- Rulers focused on expansion of scope and membership;
- Rulers required support to expand administrative developments.
First Federation Meeting – 1968:
- A nine-states federation possibility;
- Five small sheikhdoms were to form United Arab Coastal Emirates;
- Rulers not ready to sign away their powers;
- Rulers focused on practicality of forming the federation;
- Draft offered dispute resolution mechanisms;
- The draft was shallow, no clearly defined roles and positions;
- Laws guided federal council composition;
- General Rules guided relations and security;
- The draft remained vague;
- Aimed create stronger, functional federal states gradually;
- Others states supported the agreement and offered economic aid;
- Iran opposed the federation, called it inequity and injustice – it claimed all the Gulf land;
- Rulers discussion continued .

Question One – Easy

What brought about a completely new situation in all Gulf states during the withdrawal?
- Wars.
- Specific British Foreign Policy.
- Internal British and Labor Party politics.
- None of the above.

The correct answer is C.

Question 2- Medium

The following were the main technicalities for the withdrawal except
- British-Kuwait Agreement;
- Fear of Soviet Union gain;
- Fear of US invasion;
- Unsettling balance of power.

The correct answer is C because the US was not involved in the withdrawal.

Question 3 – Hard

Surprisingly, Iran supported the independence of Bahrain after the plebiscite. What was the relationship between Iran and the Island of Bahrain?
- They were close allies.
- Bahrain was stronger than Iran.
- Iran had claimed Bahrain as its ‘crown jewel’.
- The UN supported the referendum.

The correct answer is C.