The Formation of the British Federation Presentation

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.