File E/8 I Ibn Sa‘ud [‎80v] (173/606)

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through, in recent years he (Abdul Aziz Bin Saud) himself has been able to consoli
date his authority - in Central Arabia and has now taken Hasa and Katif. As is
well-known these places originally belonged to his family and did not pass into the
hands of the Turks by fair conquest, but by stratagem, by fomentinf dis
cord between two members of the family, Abdulla and Baud, the sons of Faisal and
by supporting one against the other. Eventually when Abdulla was successful the
Turks, in return for their help, retained their garrisons in the Hasa province, and
actually took over the government of it, though Abdulla was made titular governor
After a time the Bedouin Arabs finding that the local Turkish Government was
weak and impotent took to indiscriminate raiding, thereby causing great chaos and
want of security, while the more respectable and responsible portion of the po
pulation became dissatisfied with the Government because it was unable to put a
stop to the reign of lawlessness. In the meanwhile he (Abdul Aziz Bin Saudi
was approached by Arabs, not only of the Hasa province but also of Baghdad, Basra
and other places who were equally dissatisfied, and became convinced that the whole
Arab world scorned the Turkish rule. Finding that the province of Hasa, "where
our word runs," was being oppressed and bled by the Turks, and having been asked
several times by the people of the province to intervene, he eventually determined to
take the bull by the horns, re-occupy the province and ask for the support of the
British Government.
2. At this stage it was pointed out to him that our first object in arranging this
personal interview was to find out precisely in what way he wanted the assistance of
the British Government, seeing that he was aware of the friendly relations between
the British and Turkish Governments and of the neutrality of the former in res
pect of the differences between him and the latter. In reply Bin Sand stated that
what he was concerned with was his honoUf, the honour of his house, and the pre
servation of his ancestral rights. He desired to renew a,nd maintain the ancient
friendship between his family and the British Government and to have his position
secured. He was led to ask the British Government for assistance because he had
seen how that Government had dealt with Kuwait, Bahrain arid other places and
had realized that they were to be trusted. Bin Saud added that he Wishes to have
nothing to do with any other Power although he has already been approached by the
Turkish Government. He feels that he must make some terms with them to safe
guard his position, if the British Government disappoint him. He Wants to know
definitely what their expressions of goodwill really amount to, in ocder to be able to
secure his own position.
3. At this point he was asked to explain himself rather more clearly. He re
plied that all he wants is to be left in peace, and he sees that the British Govern
ment keeps the peace all along the coasts of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. except in this small
section—the coast of the Hasa province. If he could get an assurance that the
British Government would maintain the Maritime Peace on this strip of coast and
recognise his position as ''defacto" ruler, he would be satisfied; if not he would have
"to trust in his own sword," He feels convinced that the British Government
could secure this result by diplomatic means if they so desired.
4. At this point it was explained to Bin Saud that we could give him no such
assurance, and moreover we were convinced that the British Government, in view
of their friendship with the Turkish Government, could not do so either, as any
such assurance at the present time would obviously be directed against the Turks.
5. He said that the lurkish authorities had written to him proposing that he
should come to terms ; the draft conditions laid down that the '' status quo ante"
should practically be restored, that he should not accept any representatives nor
subjects of Foreign Powers in his territory, and that he should not hold any com
munication with any horeign Power except through the Turkish authorities. He
said that he thought the Turks would be ready to drop all the conditions in the pro
posed agreement except the questions of the conduct of foreign policy and of the
admission of foreign agents and foreign subjects. These, he thought, were their
principal demands, and if he conceded them, the Porte would probably agree to leave
him m peace as ' de facto ruler—how would the British Government view such an
agreement?
6. It was pointed out that if he 1 continues to be the ''de facto "ruler of the
Hasa coast, it would be absolutely necessary for the local British authorities to