'Report on Najd Mission 1917-1918' [‎27r] (53/60)

Basrah Ibn Saud made a passing remark about the Sharif's calling himself
" Sultan but his mind seemed to be set completely at *est on hearing that his
rights were safeguarded by us and that the Sharif had explicitly denied any
design on the independence of himself or his compeers.
Ibn Saud having expressed to the Chief Political Officer at their meeting
at Ojair his inclination to pay a brief visit to Shaikh Jabir of Kuwait before
returning home, the project was cordially encouraged as appearing eminently
expedient, and Sir Percy Cox recommended that he should be presented with
the K.C.I.E., at a majlis which was to be held at Kuwait where the Shaikh
was to be invested with the C.S.I. .When he intimated to Ibn Saud that this
honour was to be accorded to him, the Chief Political Officer was authorised to
inform at the same time that his rights had been carefully reserve^ in all
dealings which the British Government had held with the Sharif, and Ibn
Saud in his reply said that he was entirely satisfied on this point.
The majlis took place on November 20th. The Shaikh of Muhammerah
had come to Kuwait for the occasion and many Beduin were present, including
the friendly headmen of the Shammar Aslam, and Dhafir, and Shaikhs of the
Mutair. The Chief Political Officer, in presenting the decorations, alluded
to our satisfaction in feeling that the great Arab chiefs were bent with us
upon a common purpose. The Shaikh of Muhammerah followed him with
words which were warmly pro-British, and Ibn Saud struck the key-note of
the meeting in a speech which was as spontaneous as it was unexpected. He
-said that the Turks had placed themselves outside the pale of Islam by the
iniquities which they had committed on other Moslems. He contrasted their
policy with that of Great Britain, pointing out that the Turks had sought to
weaken the Arabs by fomenting their differences, whereas the British Govern
ment encouraged them to unite in their own interest. He praised the action of
the Sharif and urged the obligation of all true Arabs to co-operate with him
in forwarding the Arab cause. When he had brought his speech to an eloquent
close, the three chiefs, Kuwait, Muhammerah and Ibn Saud, swore together
that they would work with us for the achievement of a common end.
This scene made a deep impression on the local notables and on the
Beduin Shaikhs present, who will no doubt carry the tale far and wide.
During the receptions at Kuwait, Ibn Saud showed in all his utterances how
•clearly he had grasped the principle whch guides our relations with Arabia.
He quoted as an example of our benevolent policy towards the Arab cause the
fact that we were ready even to promote a reconciliation between himself and
Ibn Eashid if the latter would abandon his attitude of hostility. The arrival
of Ibn Fara'un's TOO camels, each branded with the wasm of that well-known
dealer, gave a dramatic completeness to the Kuwait gathering.
From Kuwait Ibn Saud went to Muhammerah as the guest of Shaikh
Khazal who co-operated most heartily in the endeavour to make Ibn Saud's
visit profitable to him. The two chiefs arrived at Basrah on the evening of
November 26. Early next morning the Chief Political Officer accompanie4
by two chief military representatives of the Army Commander present in
Basrah went on board the Shaikh's launch and presented Ibn Saud with a sword
of honour and message of welcome from the Army Commander. The day was
spent in exhibiting to him the Base Camps and organisation and the latest
machinery of warfare including the aircraft in which he took an eager interest.
Dhari Ibn Twalah and Humud al Suwait,.Shaikhs of the Shammar Aslam
and the Dhafir, were present, while Shaikh Ibrahim of Zubair and several
Sunni notables of Basrah and refugees from Baghdad had an audience with
Ibn Saud on the launch.
The Kuwait Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). and Ibn Saud's visit to Basrah l>ave placed us in a
singularly strong position. Three powerful chiefs have made public protesta
tion of their friendship with each other and their confidence in the British
Government. A telegram received from the Sharif, congratulating them upon
their zeal in the Arab cause and regretting that he had not had time to send a
representative to Kuwait, confirmed the identity of his aims with their own,
and in a further message he apologised for any deficiencies in his previous
letters on the ground that while he was in the throes of war he might un
intentionally fall short as a correspondent. The dream of Arab unity which
engaged the imagination of the Liberals of Damascus during the year before
the war, has been brought nearer fulfilment than dreams ar^ wont to come,
but the role of nresidinor genius has been recast. Instead of the brilliant,
unscrupulous Salyid Talib, gyrating in the blast of his own ambition, the
chiefs of Eastern and Western Arabia have united at the instance of the British
Government.
Besides this knitting together of Arab leaders, the meeting at Kuwait has
produced certain immediate results. In the first place the extent and nature
of Ibn Saud's share in future hostilities with Ibn Eashid, if such should occur,
was agreed upon. He undertook to maintain 4,000 men under arms: if
Ibn Eashid moved in force towards the Iraq he would move up parallel with
him towards Zubair and join the friendly tribes and a contingent from Kuwait.
He informed the friendly Shaikhs that he would support them if Ibn Eashid
threatened to attack them in strength. If, however, Ibn Eashid should re-