ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣، الجزء ٥، "منطقة نجد بالجزيرة العربية: سياسة ابن سعود" [و‎‎٢‎٨‎٩] (٣٠٨/١٥٣)

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TLLUGRALa FROIJ SIR P. COX, BASRAH, DASSIL6TH
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OCTOBER, 1916, .Jr
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v Reference to Foreign 92720 S*. I have just received further
letter from Bin Baud dated 3rd September. He makes no allusion
to receipt of any fresh communication from Sherif but apparently
means his present letter to be the "further reference " which he
promised as reported in my telegram Ho,4523 of 7th September,
As regards question of attacking Bin Rashid in or near Hail
he first alludes to need for guns before mentioned but then goes
on to say only present obstacle is that political juncture appears
to him unfavourable.
He then observes that if questions of attacking Bin Rashid or
assisting Sherif are merely matters of policy concerning
chiefs inter se then it is a question of watching for such a
suitable opportunity as will ensure successful result and this
be ’ 1
they may/counted upon to do. If on the other hand either project
affects our interests as well as his own, he says that he will no
doubt conform to our views and wishes after discussion with me
preferably at personal meeting.
With army commander f s permission I could arrange to
bring off a meeting with him towards latter pert of this month,
but if it is not desired to press upon him any specific form of
action it would perhaps be better not to have meeting just now,
but simply inform him that His majesty's Government hope he will
do Lis utmost to support Sherif in whatever way he considers fit
and xeasible*
Let me know wishes of Government on this point.
Addressed Foreign, Simla, repeated Secretary of State.
OCT