"ملفات 61/12 و 61/16 (D 80) معاهدة بين بان سعود والحكومة البريطانية" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎١] (٤٠٨/٣٤٩)

8
The last point discussed was the request of Ibn Saud that the words '' the
interests of should be omitted from article 1. Sir G. Clayton objected to this
omission, which he maintained would so reduce the scope of the article as to render
it insufficient to meet the requirements of His Majesty's Government.
His Majesty, on the other hand, argued that the meaning as conveyed at present
by the article was such as to give it too wide a scope.
After considerable discussion, it was agreed to postpone the question, together
with those others still outstanding, for further consideration.
Sth Meeting.
ihe eighth meeting took place at the King s house on the 19th May at 2 p.m.
After the seventh meeting the various points remaining at issue had been
discussed at length in sub-committee by Mr. Antonius with Abdulla Bey Damluji
and Shaikh Hafez Wahba, with the result that agreement had been reached on all
points with the exception of that raised in connection with article 6.
Sir G. Clayton opened the eighth meeting by informing His Majesty that he
understood that the only question remaining was one connected with the Capitula
tions which had arisen in discussion of article 6. He stated that it appeared, from
the discussions t)f the sub-committee, that His Majesty would be unable to sign the
treaty, unless Sir G. Clayton was prepared to inform him in writing that His
Majesty's Government would raise no objection to the issue by Ibn Saud of a
proclamation publicly abolishing the Capitulations. Sir G. Clayton informed His
Majesty that, despite his sincere desire to meet him in every possible way, he was
quite unable to give any such undertaking either verbally or in writing.
His Majesty replied that it was impossible for him, in spite of his sincere
friendship and desire for intimate relations with Great Britain, to accept the
Capitulations in any form. If he were to do so he would be betraying his country
and his religion. He drew attention to the conditions of peace and security which
now obtained in the Hejaz, and insisted that the Capitulations were unnecessary.
If he should proclaim their abolition it would be a friendly act on the part of Great
Britain to refrain from protest.
Sir G. C layton replied that he thought that His Majesty was under some
misapprehension. There was no question of any reassertion of'the Capitulations;
indeed, by conceding article 6 His Majesty 's Government considered that they were
making a great advance towards meeting His Majesty's wishes. It was quite
another thing, however, to ask His Majesty's Government to abolish the Capitula
tions publicly, in so far as they were concerned, or to agree officially to refrain from
protest should Ibn Saud proclaim their abolition himself. Sir G. Clayton stated
that he felt sure that Ibn Saud's views on this question would receive full considera
tion by His Majesty's Government, and he was perfectly prepared to put those views
before the proper authorities and to explain them fully. He urged that, from a
practical point of view, it was much wiser for Ibn Saud to have patience and go
slowly rather than precipitate a crisis which would do much more harm than good.
It was for His Majesty to decide whether he was going to allow this question to
prevent the conclusion of the treaty or whether he would reserve it as a matter for
future consideration.
His Majesty emphatically denied that he was attributing to His Majesty's
Government any desire to assert the Capitulations or that he had any distrust of His
Majesty's Government's intentions, but he did not retreat from his position.
Sir G. Clayton urged that this question should be looked at from a practical
point of view. It had never been raised before in its present form, even during the
discussions at V\ adi al Aqiq, and bearing in mind all the difficulties with which it
was surrounded, it was not reasonable to bring it up at the present juncture in this
acute form.
Ibn Saud replied that the question was one of life and death to him and his
country and that he could not give way, earnestly though he desired to meet the
wishes of His Majesty's Government, even at the expense of sacrifice to himself.
A long discussion then took place on the same lines, during which Sir G. Clavton
made a strong personal appeal to His Majesty and urged him to consider' the
question most carefully before taking a decision; but the King appeared to remain
unmoved.
Finally, Sii G. ( Litton lepeated that it was impossible for him to make such a
statement as the King required; it was beyond his power to do so and he would only